Trans Nzoia,
Saturday, March 23, 2024
KNA by Isaiah Nayika
The Okoa Boy Child Initiative gathered more heat in Trans Nzoia County on Friday as more stakeholders joined the bandwagon.
The initiative being driven by the Office of the Spouse of the Deputy President (OSDP) got the much needed support as widows from the region agreed to drive the agenda at the grassroots.
Addressing the widows at Geta in Cherangany Constituency, Second Lady Dorcas Rigathi who was on her third day of visit in the region to popularize the initiative and seek partnerships said time for the boy child to get much needed attention is now.
She rallied widows to help sensitize their children more so that the boy child to stop engaging in drug and substance abuse.
Recounting the tribulations widows undergo to make ends meet, the Second Lady walked down the memory lane and narrated how her mother as a widow, was able to beat struggles of widowhood characterized by poverty, where inheritance was lost and even had to change homes in a quest to see her children succeed.
Advising the widows not to look at themselves as lesser beings, the Second Lady rallied them to instead keep up the fight for the sake of their families.
After overseeing foodstuffs being distributed, she promised that her office would partner with other leaders to register the widows in groups which would help expose them to empowerment programmes and opportunities.
On Wednesday, the Second Lady had met the clergy in an effort to seek the support of the church in the strive to liberate the boy child from drug and substance abuse.
She later visited Precious Kids Center in Kiminini Constituency where she interacted with children with disabilities and noted that there were gaps in the country’s infrastructure and policy that needed to be addressed for those with disabilities to live comfortably.
During her second day of visit on Thursday, the Second Lady accompanied by Trans Nzoia Senator Allan Chesang, Woman Representative Lilian Siyoi, Legislators Patrick Simiyu (Cherangany ), Maurice Kaikai (Kiminini ), and Trans County Commissioner Gideon Oyagi opened a two day Kitale Free Medical Camp at Kipsongo where boys with addiction were identified after screening and referred for rehabilitation.
Later during the day, the Second Lady held a Boy child Preventive Programme against alcohol, drug and substance abuse at St. Paul’s Kitum Secondary School in Endebess Constituency.
The seminar brought together students from eight schools in the region, parents and the community at large.
Courtesy; KNA