In the rural town of Timau, Meru-Kenya, a quiet but powerful mission is transforming lives. At the Holy Innocents BPSS Centre, religious sisters and professional caregivers work side by side to help people battling addiction and mental health challenges. In the community, they are known as the “Friends of the Drunkards.” Founded in 2021 by Bishop Salesius Mugambi of the Diocese of Meru and Sr. Veronica Nkirote Rukunga, the centre responds to one of Kenya’s most urgent crises: alcohol and drug addiction, and the rising burden of mental illness. Their approach is both compassionate and clinical, treating the body, mind, and soul through the four pillars of care: Biological, Psychological, Social, and Spiritual. From medical detox and psychiatric care to therapy, spiritual guidance, and com