Africa-Press – Kenya. President William Samoei Ruto has called on religious leaders and parents to take a more active role in curbing drug and alcohol abuse among Kenya’s youth.
According to the president, a moral crisis cannot be solved by the government alone.
“We have a serious challenge of drug abuse and alcohol abuse. It is destroying our children, it is destroying the next generation of Kenyans. It cannot be done by the state alone,” he said.
Speaking at a meeting with Methodist Church of Kenya leaders at State House, Nairobi, on January 20, 2026, the President warned that substance abuse is “destroying our children” and threatening the next generation of Kenyans.
President Ruto acknowledged that legal frameworks and state interventions play a role in addressing the problem, but he stressed that the government cannot succeed without moral guidance from families and religious institutions.
“We can use the law, we can use all the other interventions, but there is a moral issue that the church must address. That is my ask of the church,” he added.
The President urged churches to step up mentorship programs, calling on religious institutions to guide young people on character development and life choices.
He emphasised that the moral shaping of Kenya’s youth is a shared responsibility involving parents, religious leaders, and society at large.
“The mentorship of our children, the mentorship of our young people, the moral character of the young people of Kenya. Parents, the church, we must step up because there is a responsibility there that is required of all of us,” he said.
Leaders from the Methodist Church, who attended the meeting, listened as the President highlighted the need for closer collaboration between the state and faith-based organisations in addressing the growing social challenge.
Substance abuse among young people has become an increasing concern in Kenya, with authorities reporting rising cases of alcohol and drug consumption among teenagers in both urban and rural areas.
By calling on the church and parents to take a front-line role, President Ruto emphasised a holistic approach to youth development, one that combines legal enforcement with moral and social guidance.
President Ruto’s appeal underscores the belief that addressing youth substance abuse requires not only policy and law enforcement but also a strong moral framework, nurtured at home and in places of worship, to safeguard Kenya’s future generations.
