However, she appealed to churches to intervene and help youth who have been affected by drug addiction, especially in the Mt Kenya region.
The Spouse of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi on Sunday, July 7 promised not to give up on her push to support the boy child despite President William Ruto announcing that his administration would cut budget allocations for her unconstitutional office.
Speaking to a congregation during a church service at Kiamariga Pentecostal Evangelistic Fellowship of Africa (PEFA) Church In Mathira, Nyeri County, Dorcas argued that withdrawing the budget would not impede her from pursuing reforms for the boychild, noting that she started the mission even before she assumed the Office of the Second Lady.
However, she appealed to churches to intervene and help youth who have been affected by drug addiction, especially in the Mt Kenya region.
President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto alongside Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his wife Dorcas Gachagua at State House before they departed for Mashujaa Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens on October 20, 2022. /PCS
“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.”
The appeal was narrowed down to the PEFA church network which she explained had branches numbering 6,000, enough to accommodate young men who could carry out tasks such as cleaning the churches in exchange for raising money for their wellbeing.
“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.
Pastor Dorcas has been at the forefront of championing for creating reforms for the Kenyan male child, especially those consuming illicit liquor and using hard drugs.
She has highlighted the plight of the Kenyan boychild, arguing that they should be equipped with appropriate tools to be the leaders in society.
President Ruto on Friday, July 5 announced a string of austerity measures in response to the retraction of Finance Bill 2024 which had aimed to raise over Ksh300 billion to finance the 2024/25 financial year budget.
He announced that budget lines providing for the operations of the offices of the First Lady, the spouses of the Deputy President, and the Prime Cabinet Secretary would be removed.
In a roundtable interview, the Head of State revealed that the first two offices would be scrapped from 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 but 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 revealed.
President William Ruto speaking to journalists at State House, Nairobi on June 30, 2024. /CITIZEN DIGITAL