A carpenter from Marsabit County has embarked on a grueling 1,060-kilometer bicycle ride from Moyale on the Kenya–Ethiopia border to Busia on the Kenya–Uganda border, campaigning against drug and substance abuse among the youth.

Frederick Ochieng, who began his journey on 2nd February in Moyale Town, has been stopping at schools and churches along the way to raise awareness about the dangers of drugs. On Wednesday, March 11, he addressed students and community members in Siaya County, where he revealed that his campaign was inspired by the tragic loss of his brother to cocaine addiction in 2023.

Ochieng said that his brother stayed in Mombasa where his addiction to cocaine cost him his life, adding that the pain pushed him to take this journey. He lamented that drugs like bhang are smuggled through the borders, and if no action is taken, then Kenya risks losing an entire generation.

Ochieng criticised corruption among law enforcement officers, accusing some of taking bribes that allow drugs to cross into the country. He urged authorities to intensify efforts to curb trafficking and protect young people from falling into addiction, which he said is often fueled by unemployment.

At Siaya Township Secondary Schools where he visited, Senior Master and Guidance Counsellor Mr. Noah Onyango praised the initiative, noting that drug abuse remains a hidden but serious problem among students.

He revealed that many students are using drugs, but they don’t open up for counselling, noting therefore that they are grateful for this campaign because it gives hope for improvement. Mr. Onyango added that similar interventions by NACADA had previously led to positive changes.

Ochieng’s campaign is expected to conclude in Busia County, where he hopes to deliver his message at the border town that symbolizes both the entry and exit points of illicit substances. His mission, he says, is to save lives and ensure that Kenya’s youth are not lost to drugs.