Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni has proposed an amendment to the constitution to make any offence dealing with offering or selling drugs to students a non-bailable offence.

Irked by increased substance and drug abuse among school-going children, Omogeni argues this era of easy access to the internet, dealing with families that are fairly able financially, makes it very easy for our children to get access to drugs and substance abuse which can expose them to serious mental health issues.

“If there will be a revisit of any amendment of the Constitution, we need to begin by amending Article 49 of our Constitution, so that we make any offence dealing with offering or selling drugs to students a non-bailable offence,” said Omogeni.

“If the government arrests you in the process of offering drugs to our children in school, we should have you locked up and your case should be heard while you are behind bars,” he held, adding that the country needs to make the offence more punitive and serious.

Omogeni was contributing to debate on the national assembly amendments to the mental health (amendment) bill.

“We need to relook at our Constitution, revisit Article 49 and make offences dealing with selling of hard drugs non-bailable and make life imprisonment as a penalty you receive if you are found offering drugs to these children because you destroy the lives of these children for life,” he held.