Caption: AP’s Commissioner of Police Davis Lumwatu speaking to students of Kisasi Boys High School during a session on radicalisation of Kenyan youth and drug abuse. (Tom Waita/hivisasa.com)
Security officers from the Administration Police unit have adopted counselling as an effective strategy towards neutralising extremist ideologies, drug abuse and irresponsible sex behaviour among the youth in Kenya.
Through a programme dubbed “Source of Light Ministries”, the officers have been visiting schools, churches and other institutions to engage young people in talks on discipline, leadership and behavioural change with the aim of instilling a sense of purpose among them.
“We are keen to discourage the younger generation from prevailing rowdy behaviour, drug and substance abuse as well as persuading them to steer clear of extremist influence,” said Commissioner of Police Davis Lumwatu.
Mr Lumwatu, who is also the Director of Human Capital Management in the Administration Police Service, led a host of AP officers in guidance and counselling session with Kisasi Boys High School students on Saturday.
He noted that, since parenting young people is never easy, the force has chipped in by putting in place a robust system to counter radicalisation of Kenyan youths and fight the drug menace that threatens to turn most of them into hopeless junkies.
“Prevention is better than cure. It is, therefore more viable to counter the destructive behaviour instead of rehabilitating addicts or fighting terrorism.
Also present at the training session was Kitui AP Commander Benson Wasike among other high ranking AP officers.