Western Kenya has topped the list of regions with the highest prevalence of alcoholism in Kenya, according to a survey conducted by the National Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse Authority (Nacada).
The study, released on Monday the 11th, revealed that the Western region has an alcohol consumption rate of 26.4 percent, while the Coast region ranks second with a rate of 13.9 percent. Central Kenya ranked third with a rate of 12.8 percent.
When it comes to the drinking of Chang’aa, a natural alcohol made from the fermentation of grains such as millet, again, the Western region led with a rate of 11.4 percent followed by Nyanza with 6.3 percent. The Rift Valley region ranked third with a consumption rate of 3.6 percent.
The study also showed that children between the ages of 7 and 9 have started using alcohol.
The study further showed that the Western region led the country in consumption of local alcohol, leading at 12.9 percent, followed by the Coast at 7.9 percent, while Nyanza was third at a rate of 2.2 percent.
In terms of alcohol, the NACADA report highlighted the Central region leading with a prevalence of 4.3 percent, followed by the Coast with 3.2 percent while the Rift Valley ranked third with 3.1 percent.
The study showed Nairobi has the highest consumption of legally produced alcohol with a prevalence rate of 10.3 percent, Central ranks second with 10.0 percent while East is third with 8.4 percent.
One in 8 Kenyans between the ages of 15 and 65 currently consumes alcohol.
The study totaled the number of alcohol users in the country to 3,199,119 people.
In that age group, NACADA reports that more men (2,511,763) currently consume alcohol than women (687,356).
The study was conducted in selected groups spread across 47 counties in the Republic of Kenya,” the study said.
”The survey sampled Kenyans aged 15 to 65. The survey sample was obtained from the Kenya Central Household Sample Survey (K-HMSF) maintained by KNBS.”
