A section of education stakeholders drawn from Nandi County have expressed their concern over the increase in drug and substance abuse among the university students, terming it a major threat to the education sector.

The concerns come on the back of the recent 2025 report by the National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) that highlighted a disturbing surge in drug and substance abuse among young people in the institutions of higher learning. The report indicated that 26.6 per cent of students in both private and public universities are currently using substances such as alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, qat (also known as miraa) as well as emerging drugs like methamphetamine and codein syrup.

The report also reveals that 45.6 per cent of university students in Kenya have used at least one drug or substance in their life time.

Speaking during a thanks giving ceremony for the class of 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates, Nandi County Teachers Service Commission Director Mary Ombitsi observed that peer group influence was one of the contributors of increased cases of drug and substance abuse among the university students, and regretted that the influence has also been noticed in adults.

Ombitsi called all students whether those seeking education abroad as well as those in the local institutions to shun engaging in all sorts of drugs and substances as a measure to ensure they excel in their academics and have a bright future.

 “To our 2024 candidates, I congratulate you. Life has just begun. Those who are planning to travel to a new country to study, keep off drugs. As you travel to other countries, be careful on how to deal with strangers. Character is what will sustain you in life. Walk with friends who influence you positively. Pray to God to guide you in your endeavours,” said Ombitsi, who told parents to monitor and take care of their children during holidays and after school.

A Baraton University lecturer who was the main speaker at the event, Prof Rei Kessis told students that success comes through understanding their past situation and anticipating a successful future. That understanding enables them to distance themselves from negative influence in form of drug abuse, disobedience and immorality.

According to Prof Kessis, parents sacrifice everything for their children because they understand the pain of their past and they desire their children to be successful in future.

“The pain of the past and the desire for the future should drive us today. The reason parents sacrifice is because they understand the past and anticipate a profitable future for their children. If you have started consuming alcohol, Kuber or cigarettes, you are predicting an unsuccessful future. Remember the struggles at home and visualise the successful future and work for it today,” the professor advised, noting that drug abuse denies students a profitable future.

Present at the same event, Nandi East Deputy County Commissioner Ngalia Ndaya echoed the sentiments calling on students to cultivate a good character that would earn them a better future noting that without discipline education would be useless.

Ndaya advised parents to ensure their children are assigned work to do during the holiday season and warned that that idleness was one of the challenges that negatively influenced character. He noted that idleness has also been noted among the adult men in the county who wake up in the morning and while away their time on roadsides instead of being productive on the farm.

 “We have heard the NACADA report that one in every five students in university have consumed alcohol. Now that the holiday is around the corner, I want to urge parents to monitor and guide their children during this period,” urged Ndaya adding that betting was also another thing that has greatly ruined the youths warning those running betting businesses like lotto machines that the government would not tolerate such.

Samoei Boys High School Chief Principal Titus Ng’etich advised students joining university to aim for a bright future and avoid negative influence that can hinder their success. Ng’etich called on students to exhibit emotional intelligence so as to be steadfast in problem solving and also spiritual intelligence to guide them into making right decisions.

“At the university, the influence is real. As you go to university, choose your friends wisely. Please keep off drugs if you want to succeed,” advised Ng’etich.

The school Deputy Principal Academics Dr Peter Ng’eny observed that the comprehensive report by NACADA was warning to those joining university urging them to download and read the report.

“Your first records have already shown us that you will perform significantly well in the next level. Avoid negative aspects as you join the next levels of education,” said Dr Ng’eny.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Ruth Mainye