UDA MP Claims University Students Take Drug to 'Die' on Friday, Resurrect on Sunday: "They're Broke"
- Moiben MP Phylis Bartoo recounted students using drugs to escape weekend expenses, revealing the depth of campus substance abuse
- A recent NACADA report exposed lecturers and non-teaching staff among sources of drugs for university students
- The government is pushing for stricter accommodation rules and staff training to curb drug use in universities
TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
A chilling confession from a university classroom has brought renewed focus to the growing drug problem among students in Kenya.
Source: Facebook
Moiben MP Phylis Bartoo, while speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, August 6, recalled her time as a university lecturer.
She narrated that some of her students once admitted to using a particular drug that helps them “hibernate” through tough financial times.
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Are university students using drugs to 'die and resurrect'?
According to her, the students claimed they would take the drug on Fridays, fall into a deep sleep, and “resurrect” on Sunday, just to avoid spending money over the weekend.
"Madam Speaker, once upon a time while I was teaching in a university, some students came to me and told me that whenever they don’t have resources or when they are broke, there is a drug they take on Fridays, and they die in quotes, and they resurrect on Sunday, so that they don’t spend any money over the weekend," she said.
Bartoo was contributing to a discussion on how to address drug and substance abuse in learning institutions.
She urged for greater collaboration between universities, the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA), and private hostel owners to combat the crisis.
The legislator noted that going forward, hostel staff will be trained to identify signs of drug use and intervene early to support affected students.
The idea is to create a supportive and drug-free environment that allows learners to focus on their education.
"Going forward, private hostel owners will be required to collaborate with universities and NACADA to mitigate substance abuse," she said.
Will government ban private hostels in universities?
The debate followed an earlier announcement by the government in February, where it suggested banning students from living in off-campus hostels.
This was based on NACADA’s claim that unregulated private housing contributes to rising cases of drug use and student indiscipline.
During the launch of a NACADA report earlier this year, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen also raised the alarm.
He linked drug use to declining academic performance, revealing that some students are intentionally delaying graduation to stay on campus and profit from illicit dealings.
He questioned how some students appear to live lavishly without engaging in any legal business, suggesting investigations are needed to uncover the truth behind their campus lifestyles.
"We need to investigate why a student is not leaving school. They pretend to finish one course and move to another course or delay finishing school. We want to deal with those types of students who are wealthy and live flashy lives but are not involved in any legal business," he said.
Source: Facebook
Are lecturers supplying drugs to students?
Meanwhile, the same NACADA report revealed a disturbing twist, that some lecturers and university staff may be part of the problem.
Of the 15,678 students surveyed across 17 universities, 7% said they had sourced drugs from teaching staff, while 11.4% pointed to non-teaching personnel.
The report also showed that students access drugs through nearby bars, online platforms, and even from their own homes. Some parents were found to keep drugs at home or consume them alongside their children.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
