A woman from Murang’a County has astonished many by revealing how her struggle with alcohol addiction led her to sell her child for only 20,000 shillings to satisfy her craving.
In an interview with Nation magazine, Wanjiru, now a counseling teacher at a rehabilitation center for alcohol addicts in Murang’a, shared her harrowing journey before rehabilitation, during which she was deeply addicted to alcohol.
Wanjiru recounted how her life took a dark turn when she missed the chance to join Alliance High School due to financial constraints. This led her to associate with groups of women who drank heavily. At the age of 14, a woman introduced her to her brother, who subsequently introduced her to alcohol.
“Initially, he gave me soda, then soda mixed with a bit of alcohol, and eventually hard liquor. By the age of 14, I was addicted to alcohol,” Wanjiru explained.
As a mother, she faced a long and arduous path, attempting prostitution and theft to support her addiction. “I was caught stealing once, beaten severely, and jailed. My family bailed me out, but I continued stealing from wealthy men by spiking their drinks and stealing their money. Despite making millions, I squandered it all on alcohol and drugs,” she shared.
Fearing further imprisonment, Wanjiru returned to her home in Kiharu, Murang’a County, where her addiction reached its lowest point when she sold her child for 20,000 shillings.
However, hope emerged in 2015 when former President Uhuru Kenyatta initiated a crackdown on illicit brews. During this period, Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria established a rehabilitation center for alcohol addicts.
Wanjiru joined the center, underwent behavioral rehabilitation, and later became a teacher dedicated to helping others overcome their addiction to illicit substances.
