Community treatment of 77 addicted Kenyan Clients

SHORT HISTORY OF KAP's ADDICTION WORK
KAP started its first addiction education activities in 2003. 
This was because our HIV/AIDS safe behaviours workshops showed that abuse of alcohol and drugs played a main role in the spread of HIV. It also really hindered the treatment and positive living of those already HIV infected.  
By then, KAP was still called 'Kitale AIDS Programme'. So to fight HIV/AIDS we also had to fight addictions. 
Our first teachers came from the Kisumu Urban Apostolate Programme (KUAP)'s Addiction Team in Kisumu, led by our late friend Mr. Paul Onyango. KAP Staffs also went to Kisumu to learn. This resulted in the establishment of KAP's Abuse/Addiction Sub-Programme, and the training of Addiction-Community Resource Persons (CRP-A's) in several parts of Trans Nzoia County: Saboti, Maili Nane, Rafiki Farm, Kitale. Our committed CRP-A's educated their communities on the prevention of alcohol and substance abuse, and also helped those already affected. 
Our communities loved the education as the addiction problems were clearly on the rise. Several people were also helped in stopping their addiction, and we became great friends!

In the course of time KAP recognised that still more needed to be done and learned. Therefore, in the first half of 2017 SAPTA (Support for Addictions Prevention and Treatment in Africa, Nairobi) sent Ms.Susan Kithika to train our professional (addiction) counsellors and Team of 'Addiction TOTs' in their 'Steps to Healthy Living' approach. 
This programme was designed to be used in Africa by Peer Educators to assist people affected by alcohol and/or drugs in order for them to either reduce or and abstain from their alcohol and drug use. Especially for those in environments where funding is limited: The poorest and most vulnerable community-members. KAP's current community-based addiction treatment programme is based on this approach. 

As from October 2023 KAP trained its first team of 9 Recovery Coaches to help implement its 'Steps programme', in the Kitale area. 
To date more than 190 Clients have undergone KAP's 'Steps' programme. From July 2024 through June 2025 KAP's Steps Groups assisted 98 Clients in KAP's Steps Groups, and 40 of their relations. This took place in the areas of Matisi/Soko Moko/Folkland and Lukhuna-Premium in Kitale, with a new group starting in Bidii in November 2025. 

ENORMOUS NEEDS BUT LITTLE FUNDS AVAILABLE
Whereas the stark rise of the abuse/addiction problem is widely recognised, in general little action is undertaken to fight this problem. Funds for addiction work are extra hard to find, often due to stigma and the belief that nothing can be done. 
KAP however has documented evidence that both in the aras of prevention as well as community-based treatment good results and sobriety can be achieved!
55% of it Clients show to be now sober plus an additional 26% well-on-the-way.
The demands for KAP's preventive addiction-educational activities are very many, even more than KAP can offer.

FUNDS
KAP is most grateful for its current two donors funding its addiction work. 
However, most unfortunately one of them will no longer be available as from July 2026, due to its short-term engagements policy. 
Our GlobalGiving Addiction project was to be a third source of funding. So far the wonderful donations we received have allowed for important complementary contributions to the other two main addiction projects.

However, with one of our main donors phasing out, THIS GLOBALGIVING PROJECT WILL NOW BE INTENSIFIED TO FILL THE GAP, AND HELP US CONTINUE THE RECOVERY-PROCESS OF OUR CLIENTS !

LET US ALL JOIN HANDS TO TREAT AND HEAL OUR ALCOHOL & SUBSTANCE-ABUSING NEIGHBOURS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY-MEMBERS ! AND TO PREVENT ADDICTION ESPECIALLY AMONGST THE MANY YOUTHS AND CHILDREN BEING LURED INTO THIS TRAP.
KAP HAS SHOWN THAT THIS IS POSSIBLE!

(LOCAL) RESOURCE MOBILISATION
In order to learn how to raise funds, all KAP Staffs are currently undergoing training in this topic by our knowledgeable, capable and experienced friends Willem Malaba and Namatsi Lukoye. In this, the GlobalGiving Learning platform is also a great resource. 
The Giving Tuesday Campaign on the 5th December 2025 was our test - campaign. We are so grateful to have received from you $812.69 on this day alone (excluding matching funds), with additional accidental early/late donations of $430:
This is truly HOPEFUL !
WE THANK ALL OF YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS ! 

KAP is now preparing for its BIG AIM in GLOBALGIVING's LITTLE BY LITTLE CAMPAIGN IN APRIL 2026.
WATCH THIS SPACE: YOU WILL SOON HEAR MORE ABOUT OUR INTENSIFIED RESOURCE MOBILISATION ACTIVITIES!!

PROGRAMME EVALUATION
From October through December 2025 KAP has been undergoing an all-round programme evaluation.
55 of KAP's Recovering Addicted Clients joined the Focus Group Discussions and Interviews, whilst many more beneficiaries of its Addiction Psycho-Education sessions also told about their experiences and stories of change. 
We will give a summary in our next report. 

A TESTIMONY 
JUDITH'S STORY OF HOPE AND RESILIENCE IN THE LUKHUNA-PREMIUM SHANTY AREA OF KITALE

Judith, a 37-year-old single mother of three, began using alcohol during her marriage due to persistent frustration and emotional distress caused by her husband and extended family members. As her alcohol use escalated, she found it increasingly difficult to care for her children. The situation eventually forced her to leave the marriage and resettle with her children in Lukhuna Village, on the outskirts of Kitale town. Living as a single mother under stressful conditions, her alcohol dependence deepened further.

In December 2024, Judith was enrolled in KAP’s Lukhuna/Premium “Steps to Healthy Living” community-based recovery programme through the referral of a local village elder. The Steps Treatment process takes two years. Since joining the programme, she has actively participated in educational sessions, group counselling, individual counselling, and family follow-up visits. These are key interventions offered under KAP’s Community-Based Addiction Treatment Programme.

Through consistent support and her own determination, Judith has gradually reduced her alcohol use and has remained sober for the past five months. Her relationships with her children and extended family have significantly improved, and she continues to attend KAP sessions faithfully. She is also learning healthier coping skills and strategies for relapse prevention.

Despite this progress, Judith still faces several social and economic challenges. She struggles to meet her family’s basic needs and her children’s education costs. Additionally, she is dealing with a chronic wound on her upper foot that has not healed despite ongoing medical treatment at Trans Nzoia County Hospital.

Looking ahead, Judith hopes to fully recover her health and start a small-scale business to support her family’s needs. KAP continues to walk with her on this journey toward long-term recovery and stability.

• Financial Report 1.August through 30.November 2025 (PDF)