Former Nairobi Governor and flashy city businessman Mike Sonko has issued a heartfelt plea to Kenyan youth, urging them to shun alcoholism, which he warns has become a growing crisis claiming the lives of many young people.
In a recent social media post, Sonko revealed that through his Sonko Rescue Team, they had already buried dozens of young victims who succumbed to alcohol-related complications.
“It’s heartbreaking to see how many young people are turning to alcohol as a way to cope with the economic hardships in the country. Unfortunately, it’s killing them at an alarming rate,” he said.
Sonko shared a touching account of a 32-year-old man, the son of his former ally, who recently died due to suspected alcohol abuse.
“I’m currently in communication with his mother, as they are from a family I’m well known to. She had relocated to Kansas City, USA, in search of better opportunities to support her only son. Sadly, she’s now on her way back to bury him. Let us spare our parents the pain of burying their children,” he urged.
His emotional message comes at a time when Kenya continues to grapple with a rising number of deaths linked to alcoholism, a menace that has particularly affected young men in various parts of the country.
Health experts and local authorities have repeatedly raised concerns over the increase in counterfeit alcoholic beverages in circulation, which have been blamed for numerous fatalities.
Recent statistics paint a grim picture, with thousands of young Kenyans reportedly dying every year from alcohol-related complications. The situation has worsened as cases of toxic and unregulated brews continue to flood the market, despite ongoing crackdowns.
Sonko’s impassioned appeal has since resonated widely online, with many Kenyans echoing his sentiments and calling for collective efforts to save the youth from the deadly grip of alcohol addiction.