Comedian and NACADA board member, Vincent Mwasia Mutua, alias Chipukeezy, became the youngest of the bosses at the organisation, after his appointment in 2018, at only 27 years old.
During a past interview with Hot 96 presenter, Jeff Koinange and fellow comedian, Jalang'o, Chipikeezy answered questions on how he landed the job.
"I got this job because I was the right person for the job. I think the president was looking for a young person who can represent the young people and be able to talk to them. I think that over the years, that is what I've been doing.
"I'm not saying that I am the best or the most hardworking person, but I think, probably somebody noticed what I've been doing," he explained.
The comedian dismissed rumours, that he had been appointed because of supporting President Uhuru Kenyatta, during the 2017 presidential campaigns.
"There are so many other people who supported him. So many artists. I said tano tena yes, but I don't think that was part of the qualifications," he affirmed.
Jeff also asked Chipukeezy, whether his fellow board members expected him to crack jokes for them, since he was a comedian.
He responded that they all laughed when they first met him and Jalang'o stepped in to try and explain why that happened.
Jalas, as he is popularly known, told radio listeners that Chipukeezy's colleagues were much older than him and had certain perceptions of drug users; that they are untidy with unkempt hair. Bearing that in mind, they probably thought that the newcomer was one of them (drug abusers), because of how his hair looked.
Brushing the light jokes aside, the three then delved into a discussion of how drug abuse had become a serious concern.
Chipukeezy highlighted that most times, stakeholders focused on known drugs like alcohol, tobacco, bhang, cocaine and heroin but didn't consider emerging trends.
"The drugs these days! A child can walk into a chemist and purchase codeine and then mix it with soda to get high," he spoke.
He also shed light, on how other drug users had crafted ways of abusing the hallucinogens publicly, without raising suspicion.
Mwasia proceeded to give an instance, where a drug addict had confessed to him that he would mix heroin with miraa, which is legal, by sprinkling the narcotic on the leaves before chewing them.
A research conducted by Kahuthia-Gathu, R. Okwarah, P. Gakunju, R. Thungu, J. of Kenyatta University, revealed the extent to which the emerging trends in drug abuse had taken root in the country.
"Forty-one emerging drugs comprising of one or combinations of drugs were recorded, with Nairobi recording a significantly higher number of emerging drugs than Mombasa," the research paper stated.
"There is a need for all stakeholders to review the alcohol and Drug Abuse policy, to include new and emerging drugs in order to mitigate illnesses deaths and associated with emerging drugs," the researchers advised.
