Nicholas Langat was a highly trained Recce squad officer attached to President Uhuru Kenyatta's security detail before his life came tumbling down and led him to crushing stones at a quarry to make a living.
Langat, a highly trained Recce Squad officer narrated how his suspension in 2016 led to a series of misgivings in his life.
His suspension came as a result of failing to report to duty in time after going to the village to attend to his sick wife.
His wife, who was suffering from throat cancer, died later that year leaving behind a two-year-old daughter.
According to Langat, who spoke to the Nation, the suspension had shackled him from seeking other jobs as he was not formally dismissed stating that he was still an officer.
Confessing to suffering from depression, the officer stated that he had to look after his daughter and aged parents.
He turned to drinking alcohol and became an addict. He was forced to take up menial odd jobs to sustain his habit and also have some money to look after his family.
Among the casual jobs he took up were digging pit latrines and crushing stones at the quarry in his rural home in Kericho county.
He admitted that his drinking habits had destroyed his life and he was ready to return to his job and take care of his kin.
“I have gone through hell due to drinking and I feel that I’m tired of this life. I would love to go back to my normal life and get back my job if possible,” he told the Nation.
According to a recent survey by the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA), Nairobi has the highest consumption of alcohol followed by Eastern, Western and Rift Valley regions.
