ANGLICAN CHURCH BACKS WAR ON DRUGS

The Anglican Church will support the Government war on drug abuse and
trafficking.

The church has subsequently asked the National Constitutional
Conference to ensure the activities are banned by law.

The church said abuse of drugs, which has caused unrest in countries
such as Somalia, should not be allowed to destroy foundations such as
health, education and good governance.

"We should not allow addicts to replace such values with foundations
of different kinds," ACK Chairman of Justice, Peace, Reconciliation
and Advocacy Commission, Bishop Gedion Ireri, said.

He was addressing a one-day seminar organised for ACK by the National
Campaign Against Drugs (Nacada). The theme of the seminar was The Role
of the Church in Preventing Drug Abuse.

The workshop was attended by ACK Archbishop, Benjamin Nzimbi, Nacada
Co-ordinator, Mr Joseph Kaguthi, and all of the church's bishops.

Ireri said the church will launch a preventive programme in every
diocese and asked the youth to promote its goals and objectives. They
will also organise spiritual campaigns to fight substance abuse in
schools and colleges during weekends.

The clergy were also asked to ensure church halls and vestries become
rehabilitation centres and clinics for counselling, treatment and healing.

Ireri said the present generation poses a different culture that is
foreign to religious values.