Kickingthehabit

Kenya’s drug addicts getting a new lease on life in Chinese funded rehabilitation centers

HE’D been addicted to drugs and alcohol for 22 years, depending daily on doses of cocaine, marijuana and heroin. To survive, Kenyan John Mugenda, 44, resorted to drastic measures.

“I sold my father’s $8 million estate inheritance. I had so many friends because I had money [at that time].”

Mugenda said he couldn’t cope with his wealthy status and turned to drugs and a promiscuous lifestyle for solace. The money soon ran out and in the process he said he became so poor that he even started mugging people to feed his habit.

Today Mugenda is clean and holds down a regular job. His turnaround came after being rehabilitated at a Chinese funded New Life Home in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.