Second Lady Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, on Sunday, maintained that she would not stop her boy child rehabilitation programme despite President William Ruto announcing that the government will be doing away with the budget for her office.
Addressing a congregation during a church service at Kiamariga PEFA Church In Mathira, Nyeri County, Dorcas, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's spouse, explained that she initiated the project before assuming the Office of the Second Lady.
She, however, appealed to churches to chip in and help youth who are being affected by drug addiction, especially in Mt Kenya.
She noted that churches could offer them tasks such as cleaning the churches in exchange for raising money for their wellbeing.
"Just like the country has said they do not want the second lady to have a budget and it is alright but the boy child's work will not stop. That is a vision and a passion I have for the boychild. I cannot stop because I started even before I was in the office," Pastor Dorcas told the congregation.
"I believe you and I can be able to make it. I am asking the church today, 'Open the doors to the children. Let them come to churches. Feed them, clothe them, mentor and discipline them to make sure they are alright."
She further narrowed down to PEFA churches which she explained had 6,000 branches and could be instrumental in fighting the drug menace.
"As a church, I believe God has blessed us and we can be able to change the lives of our young people. They can run here. We have PEFA which has 6,000 churches.
"If every branch was to take 10, how many young men would we remove from the streets?" she added.
President William Ruto, on Sunday last week, announced that in the Financial Year 2024/2025, the offices of the First and Second Ladies will not be allocated budgets noting that it was his first austerity move to ensure the government lives within its means.
In a roundtable interview, the Head of State noted that the two offices will be scrapped beginning the new Financial Year that took effect on Monday, July 1.
"I know citizens have said there is no need for the office of the first lady and second lady but these are offices that have been there because we have to live within our means, those offices from tomorrow will not be part of our equation because, in the face of what has happened, we have to trim down every other area," the Head of State explained.
