If Samuel Kimani could go back in time he would probably do things differently to make sure he never fell into drug addiction.

What started out as a way to pass time with friends consuming Marijuana led to a serious drug addiction that resulted in him dropping out of University.

Kimani, was a student at the University of Nairobi (UoN) in 2010 studying journalism. But he was not able to graduate together with his peers after he started missing out on classes which affected his performance. His situation worsened to an extent that he could not comprehend anything.

This resulted in him dropping out of school.

“The excess drug and substance use is what saw me drop from campus after I could not sit for my exams,” Samuel Kimani said.

His condition escalated from bad to worse in 2014 where he was admitted to a rehabilitation centre in Homabay County. After some time he was given a clean bill of health and he returned back to campus to continue with his studies.

However, in 2017 he fell back into drug addiction leading to him being admitted again at John Mututho Empowerment Centre (JOMEC) -a rehabilitation for drug addicts situated in Pipeline Nakuru.

The journey to recovery has not been easy for Kimani but he is taking it one step at a time, through counselling at the Mary Wairiri Foundation, Treatment and Counselling Centre in Molo town.

He is also continuing with his studies in communication though in a different campus- Presbyterian University of East Africa Nakuru.

Kimani, has a dream of becoming a household name in the media industry so that he can actualize various issues affecting society, among them mental health challenges.

“I have a dream that one day I will also be able to tell stories and challenges affecting our society once I complete my studies,” he said.

Counsellor Steve Kinuthia has a word with Harun Wainaina (in green) at Wairiri counselling centre.

Photo credit: PRISTONE MAMBILI/MTAA WANGU

Harun Wainaina reads from the same script as his counterpart. Enrolled at Egerton University to study political science he was forced to drop out in 2020 because of drug addiction.

His condition continued to deteriorate until his mother intervened in 2022, enrolling him at a rehabilitation centre for therapy and counselling.

“My stay in this centre has helped me reform, I can now understand myself and make decisions that are helpful unlike before when I was under the influence of drugs,” Harun Wainaina said.

Wainaina, who had a dream of becoming an ambassador one day, smiles and says it is never too late for him and that if given a chance he will prove it to the world.

According to Psychologist Jane Njeri, there have been rising cases of mental health among young people.

Psychologist Jane Njeri.

Photo credit: PRISTONE MAMBILI/MTAA WANGU

This she attributes to drugs and substance abuse as well as a family environment where young people feel that there is no one to handle their issues.

“There are so many issues affecting young people and they end up into drugs and substance abuse which at the end lead many to fall into depression,” Jane Njeri said.

The society she says needs to develop a habit of accepting and embracing with love those who have reformed so that they can get a second chance in life.

pmambili@gmail.com

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Pristone Mambili