Dorcas Rigathi decries drug abuse prevalence among youth
Pastor Dorcas Rigathi has decried the prevalence of drug abuse by the youth in Kenya during her tour of the United States with her spouse, Rigathi Gachagua.
In a statement on Saturday, July 12, 2025, Dorcas told Kenyans in the United States how the state of drug abuse in Kenya had become commonplace.
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She equally registered that the challenge was also common abroad, as many Kenyans working in the US were turning to drug and substance abuse.
Drug and substance abuse
“While in Seattle, Washington State, I accompanied my husband, Rigathi Gachagua, in a diaspora meeting. The Kenyans in the diaspora shared their deep concerns about the direction our beloved nation is taking and, equally, their enduring hope for a better, stronger Kenya,” Dorcas stated.
“One of the issues that emerged strongly is the alarming rise in drug and substance abuse among our youth, both at home and abroad. This is a crisis we cannot afford to ignore,” she observed.
She equally noted that the problem threatens the fabric of the nation and society.
“It threatens the very fabric of our society and the future of our nation. Despite the pain and disappointment many are feeling, there is still an unwavering desire among Kenyans everywhere to be part of the solution to rebuild, to restore, and to see our economy thrive again,” Dorcas remarked.
Anti-drug abuse efforts
While in the office of the spouse of the deputy president, Dorcas’s anti-drug crusade focused on the rehabilitation of addicts.
Her office actively identified and supported individuals struggling with addiction, facilitating their admission into various rehabilitation centres.
Notably, hundreds of reformed addicts graduated from programmes under her patronage, signifying a concerted effort to provide comprehensive care that includes not only de-addiction but also skills training to reintegrate them into society and secure job opportunities.
Beyond rehabilitation, Dorcas championed a robust preventive programme, primarily targeting high school students. She embarked on a series of visits to learning institutions across different counties in Kenya, delivering powerful messages about the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse.
By empowering young people with the knowledge to resist peer pressure and make informed decisions, these sensitisation forums—which were frequently held in partnership with organisations such as the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA)—sought to protect young people from the scourge of addiction.
