MOI UNIVERSITY MAIN CAMPUS
SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
NAME: KELVIN NJUGUNA GITHINJI
REG NO: CP/13/16
COURSE CODE: BAS 401
COURSE TITLE: ISSUES IN SOCIAL ETHICS
TASK: TAKE AWAY CAT
DATE: 15TH NOVEMBER, 2025
1- Drugs and substance abuse is on the rise among the youths in learning institutions in
Kenya. Identify and explain the causes and effects and provide solutions.
Drugs and Substance Abuse Among Youths in Learning Institutions
Drug and substance abuse among young people in Kenyan learning institutions has become a
major concern. One major cause is peer pressure. Many students want to feel accepted by their
friends, so they copy the behaviour of the group they spend time with. When a group of friends
uses alcohol, bhang, or other substances, others may join in to avoid being seen as different or
“boring.” This desire to fit in is especially strong among teenagers who are still building their
identity. As a result, peer influence becomes one of the greatest forces pushing students into drug
use.
Another cause is stress and emotional pressure. Many students struggle with heavy academic
workloads, family conflicts, breakups, loneliness, and financial challenges. Without healthy
ways to cope, some students turn to drugs as a way to relax or escape from their problems. The
pressure to meet expectations from teachers and parents can also overwhelm students, especially
during examinations. When counselling services are weak, students may feel helpless and choose
substances like alcohol, khat, or bhang to numb their feelings. Over time, this escape turns into
dependence and addiction.
Easy availability of drugs also fuels the problem. Alcohol, glue, bhang, and even hard drugs are
easily found in shops, kiosks, backstreets, and informal settlements near schools. Drug sellers
target students because they see them as easy customers. In some towns, drugs are sold cheaply
in small portions, making them affordable even to students who have limited pocket money. The
lack of strict monitoring around schools, combined with corrupt individuals who protect drug
dealers, makes it easy for learners to access harmful substances.
Family influence plays a big role as well. Children who grow up in homes where parents or older
siblings drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or use drugs often view such behaviour as normal.
When children see substance use within the home, they are likely to copy it as part of their
lifestyle. Homes with violence, neglect, or poor communication also push young people to seek
comfort elsewhere. For some, drugs become a substitute for the emotional support they are
missing at home.
Another major cause is lack of proper guidance. Many students do not have strong mentors or
role models to guide them toward responsible behaviour. Schools that lack functional
counselling departments leave students without a safe space to talk about their struggles. Some
young people also look up to celebrities and social media influencers who glamorize drug use.
Without strong moral direction from teachers, parents, and community leaders, students easily
fall into harmful habits.
Effects of Drug and Substance Abuse
Drug abuse causes serious damage to students’ academic performance. Learners who use drugs
lose concentration, forget easily, and skip classes regularly. Their grades drop, and many end up
repeating classes or dropping out of school altogether. Addiction affects motivation and
discipline, making it difficult for students to focus on their studies. As a result, many destroy
their education even before their future begins.
Drug use also affects the physical and mental health of young people. Substances damage vital
organs such as the liver, lungs, heart, and brain. Students may develop addiction, which makes it
hard for them to function without the drug. Mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety,
hallucinations, and aggressive behaviour become more common among learners who use drugs.
These conditions may lead to long-term health struggles that continue into adulthood.
Indiscipline and crime are also common effects. Students who abuse drugs may become violent,
unruly, or disobedient. They may join gangs, steal phones, participate in bullying, or vandalize
school property. Under the influence, they lose control and make poor decisions that harm
themselves and others. Drug abuse weakens school discipline and creates insecurity within
learning institutions.
Drug use also breaks relationships. Students who use substances often lie to their friends and
parents, break trust, and isolate themselves. Families may fight constantly over the student’s
behaviour. Friendships collapse because the student becomes unpredictable, dishonest, or
difficult to deal with. Over time, drug abuse destroys the social support system that young people
need to grow and succeed.
The biggest long-term effect is loss of future opportunities. Addiction kills dreams and
ambitions. Students who drop out of school or develop criminal records struggle to find jobs.
They miss out on scholarships, employment, and career growth. Many end up trapped in poverty,
crime, or long-term dependency on drugs. The nation also loses productive young people who
could have helped build the economy.
Solutions to Drug and Substance Abuse
Schools can help solve the problem by strengthening guidance and counselling programs.
Trained counsellors can offer emotional support, teach students coping skills, and help those
struggling with addiction. Mentorship clubs and peer-support groups can give learners positive
role models. When students feel supported and understood, they are less likely to turn to drugs.
Parents play a major role in prevention. They can monitor their children’s behaviour, spend
quality time with them, and offer emotional support. Open communication at home helps
students share their struggles before they get worse. Parents who act as good role models and
create stable homes reduce the chances of their children engaging in drugs.
Law enforcement is also important. Authorities can close drug-selling points near schools, arrest
dealers who target students, and increase patrols in areas where drugs are commonly sold. When
drug networks are disrupted, access becomes harder for learners. Strict enforcement sends a
strong message that selling drugs to minors is unacceptable.
Schools can also teach life skills. Lessons on decision-making, resisting peer pressure, time
management, and stress control help students make responsible choices. Life skills education
gives learners the confidence to say no to drugs and focus on their goals.
The wider community plays a key role. Religious leaders, chiefs, youth groups, and NGOs can
organize awareness campaigns that educate families about the dangers of drug abuse.
Community activities such as sports, talent shows, and mentorship programs keep young people
engaged in positive environments. When communities unite, drug abuse becomes harder to hide
and easier to fight.
2-Analyze corruption as a social ethical issue in the Kenyan context
Corruption as a Social and Ethical Issue in Kenya
Corruption remains one of the most persistent challenges facing Kenya today, affecting nearly
every sector of society. It takes different forms such as bribery, embezzlement of public funds,
nepotism, tribal favoritism, and abuse of office. These corrupt practices weaken national
institutions, distort fairness, and reduce the overall quality of life for ordinary citizens. When
public resources are misused, development slows down, inequality increases, and public
confidence in leadership declines. As a result, corruption is not just a political or economic
problem but a deep social and ethical issue that affects the nation’s moral fabric, unity, and long-
term progress.
Social Dimension
One major social effect of corruption in Kenya is the erosion of public trust. When citizens
consistently witness cases of bribery in police stations, courtrooms, hospitals, and government
offices, they begin to lose confidence in public institutions. Many Kenyans start to believe that
success is determined not by hard work or qualifications but by who you know and how much
you can pay. This weakens social cohesion and leads to frustration and hopelessness among the
youth and other vulnerable groups.
Corruption also causes unequal access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and
infrastructure. When leaders award tenders based on favoritism or tribal loyalty rather than merit,
some regions receive better roads, clean water, or functioning schools while others are neglected.
This unfair distribution of resources deepens regional inequality and fuels ethnic tensions,
making national unity more difficult to achieve.
Moreover, corruption contributes significantly to poverty. Money meant for building hospitals,
creating jobs, or supporting vulnerable families is often lost through embezzlement. As a result,
poor communities continue to suffer without adequate services, while a few corrupt individuals
become wealthy. This expands the gap between the rich and the poor and limits opportunities for
social mobility.
Another serious social consequence is the poor quality of public services. When corruption
influences procurement, contractors may use cheap materials to cut costs after bribing officials.
This leads to collapsed buildings, poorly constructed roads, and under-equipped hospitals. Such
substandard projects endanger lives and waste taxpayers’ money, making development more
expensive and unsustainable.
Ethical Dimension
From an ethical standpoint, corruption violates key moral values such as honesty, fairness,
integrity, and responsibility. Kenyan cultural traditions, religious teachings, and national laws
emphasize the importance of truth and justice. When individuals choose to engage in corrupt
acts, they betray these values and contribute to moral decay. This weakens the ethical foundation
that supports good leadership and nation-building.
Corruption also involves a direct abuse of power. Leaders who demand or accept bribes misuse
the authority entrusted to them by the public. Instead of serving citizens, they serve their own
interests. This behaviour violates the ethical duty of public office, which requires leaders to work
for the common good rather than personal gain.
Furthermore, corruption promotes injustice. In many cases, only people with money or
connections are able to access services, win court cases, or secure jobs. Those who cannot pay
bribes suffer delays or total denial of services. This creates a society where justice is not based
on fairness but on wealth and influence, undermining the principle of equality before the law.
Another ethical concern is the creation of a culture of impunity. When corrupt individuals are not
punished or when cases drag in court for many years others begin to believe that corruption is
acceptable or even smart. Young people grow up seeing corruption as normal behaviour, which
threatens future generations and encourages the cycle to continue.
Possible Solutions
Addressing corruption in Kenya requires strong institutions and collective responsibility.
Strengthening anti-corruption agencies such as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission
(EACC) is crucial. These agencies need enough resources, legal power, and protection for
whistle-blowers so that they can investigate cases thoroughly and independently.
Strict punishment is also essential. Courts must handle corruption cases more quickly and ensure
that those found guilty face meaningful consequences, such as imprisonment, heavy fines, or
being permanently barred from public office. This would discourage others from engaging in
corruption.
Public awareness is another key solution. Citizens need education on how to identify, report, and
resist corruption. Civil society groups, schools, religious institutions, and the media can play an
important role in teaching people about accountability and the importance of ethical behavior.
Promoting transparency can significantly reduce corruption. Digital systems for public payments,
procurement, and revenue collection minimize human interaction, which is where bribery often
happens. When government processes are automated and information is open to the public, it
becomes easier to trace funds and prevent misuse.
