The Kiambu ‘Kaa Sober’ alcholics’ rehabilitation programme that was established by county Governer Ferdinand Waititu has had to be terminated.
This is after an outrage from county leaders and rehabilitation experts who doubted the programme’s effectiveness, transparency, accountability and sustainability.
The project is reported to have been operating at Sh2 million per day.
Youth have each been earning a Sh400 daily stipend, Sh300 as wages and Sh100 for breakfast and lunch for doing manual jobs within the programme.
Leaders, with backing from rehabilitation experts, had said that the programme was abetting alcoholism since the beneficiaries were using part of the stipend on alcohol.
Some 5,078 beneficiaries of the programme got a Sh20,000 cheque which Mr Waititu, who announced the termination of the controversial programme, said was meant to enable them start decent income generating activities.
Graduation ceremonies were held for participants, with the governor awarding them certificates after completing short vocational courses in local polytechnics.
Defending his programme, Waititu said he launched it to fight alcoholism through creation of employment for the youth as he promised during the 2017 campaigns.
He argued that just like the elected leaders draw salaries from government coffers, the young people are also entitled to some, accused the leaders and other critics of being jealous of his programme.