The government has launched an enhanced national campaign against illicit alcohol and drugs following what Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen described as an alarming surge in substance abuse threatening the country’s future.
Speaking after convening a high-level multi-agency meeting, Murkomen said the prevalence of illicit alcohol and narcotics had reached crisis levels, prompting urgent action under the directive of President William Ruto.
“The prevalence of illicit alcohol and drugs in our country has reached alarming levels, posing a serious threat to the future of our nation,” Murkomen said.
He noted that in his New Year Address, the President instructed the Ministry of Interior and National Administration to urgently scale up efforts to combat the menace.
Acting on that directive, Murkomen said the meeting brought together key law enforcement and regulatory agencies to lay the groundwork for a coordinated and sustained response.
“In his New Year Address, H.E. the President directed our Ministry to urgently upscale the fight against this menace,” Murkomen said.
“Today, I convened a multi-agency meeting… to set the ball rolling on an enhanced national response to the proliferation of illicit alcohol and drugs.”
A key resolution of the meeting was the immediate strengthening of the Anti-Narcotics Unit through the deployment of additional officers.
Murkomen said the numbers would be increased progressively to reach the required capacity by the end of the year.
“We resolved to immediately strengthen the Anti-Narcotics Unit through the deployment of additional officers,” he said.
The Interior CS also announced the formation of a multi-agency task team that will begin work immediately to coordinate a nationwide crackdown on illicit ethanol and drugs.
The operation will target not only distributors and traffickers but also the financial gains from the illegal trade.
“This operation will include the seizure of assets and property acquired from the proceeds of illicit alcohol and drug trafficking, in accordance with the law,” Murkomen said.
To disrupt supply chains, the government will intensify policing along ungazetted border points and major transit routes commonly used to move illicit substances.
Murkomen said these measures are intended to cut off access points and stem cross-border trafficking.
In addition to enforcement, the government plans to work closely with county governments to expand rehabilitation and recovery programmes for individuals affected by substance abuse.
“The team will collaborate closely with county governments to strengthen rehabilitation and recovery programmes for victims of drug and substance abuse,” Murkomen said.
The CS said the coordinated approach underscores the government’s commitment to tackling the crisis through enforcement, prevention, and rehabilitation, as it seeks to safeguard public health, security, and the country’s socio-economic future.
The meeting was attended by senior security and government officials, including Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin, Deputy Inspectors General Eliud Lagat and Gilbert Masengeli, NACADA CEO Dr. Anthony Omerikwa, KEBS CEO Dr. Esther Ngari, and Assets Recovery Agency Director-General Mark Ogonji, among others.
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