Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has addressed cases of university students being lured to alcoholism and sexual acts by their university lecturers or other members of staff in their respective higher learning institutions.
CS Murkomen was speaking on Thursday, February 13, during the launch of the report on the status of drugs and substances in Kenyan universities by the National Agency for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA).
The CS further called out university lecturers or other members of staff for being part of drug trafficking in the institutions.
“It is true that our staff in our universities including lecturers, present or former, contribute immensely to the distribution of drugs. In fact, it is true that lecturers intentionally invite students to go out and buy alcohol intentionally, ” he said.
“One of the most prevalent, and I would like NACADA even if it is not confined on your mandate, another study should be done about sexual abuse in the university where young girls are being taken advantage of by those who are supposed to take care of them, sex for marks and such kind of things.
CS Murkomen Addresses Sex for Marks in Universities
Murkomen while highlighting prevalence in such cases said that such “evil” things have been left unaddressed for a long time and that the government in participation with stakeholders will face them head-on.
“Let’s not hide it under the carpet, I know Professors who used to harass students, and some did not even graduate because they never fell into their trap and when they reported, the lecturers always got their way out from facing disciplinary action. There is a problem in our universities. We must start running universities as proper institutions that can respond to these challenges.,” he added.
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During the status of drugs and substances in Kenyan universities report launch by NACADA, the agency noted that smoked cannabis is the most accessible narcotic for university students at 61.7 percent.
NACADA report
Smoked cannabis was ranked first followed by cannabis edibles such as weed-laced cookies and juice, at 47.6 percent.
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On the other hand, alcohol was ranked as the most available substance among university students at 87.3 percent, followed by cigarettes at 64.4 percent and shisha at 41.2 percent.
The report also found that female university students have a higher prevalence of moderately severe (4.1%) and severe (6.4.%) depressive disorders compared to their male counterparts (5.2% and 3.0%, respectively) which CS Murkomen said raises significant concerns for the future of girls in the country.
At the same time, the report found that 45.6% of university students have used at least one drug or substance in their lifetime.
Further statistics by NACADA show that 26.6% of current actives students are using the substances.
Methamphetamine and codeine syrup have also been highlighted as emerging substances that are finding their way into the lives of students.
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