'I used to drink a crate and a half of beer,' DP Gachagua speaks on his battle with addiction

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua continues his campaign against alcohol abuse as he recounts his journey with addiction.

Speaking at a public lecture at Murang’a University of Technology on Wednesday, Mr Gachagua opened up about his heavy drinking and losing friends to the bottle.

“I used to drink a lot myself, a crate... a crate and a half. There's a bar called Citrus next to Jamuhuri High School. There would be a one-man guitar crooner…” he said.

He stated that many of his drinking buddies are dead while the rest are in bad shape and depend on him for sustenance.

“Many of my drinking buddies are dead, others are zombies, and others are ruined. They look for me to give them something to eat today,” he said.

The DP stated that he has led a good life since he decided to quit alcohol.

“Since I made the decision to quit drinking, my path has been rosy and you can see where I stand today,” said Gachagua as he pleaded with the youth to refrain from alcohol.

“Please our young people I cry for you. President William Ruto cries for you. I have to talk to you, to ask you with tremendous respect and humility that your future is bright. Please don't ruin it.," the DP pleaded.

He was speaking in an interview at Inooro TV on March 17, where he narrated about his brother, Jackson Reriani, who died of alcohol abuse in September 2022.

“I tried to beg him, telling him 'We are just the two of us, do not leave me alone.' I tried to get him treated. After we were inaugurated, he came to my residence in Nairobi and while I was very happy, I gave him and others some money as they left; the next time I saw him, he was in a coffin. He went straight to the alcohol and he died,” said the DP during the TV interview.

According to data from the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), one in every five families in Kenya has a relative suffering from physical and emotional health problems resulting from alcohol.