Special courts to ramp up cases against drug peddlers

An addict injects himself /FILE

The move, reinforced by specialised police units and trained prosecutors, is expected to address long-standing delays that have often weakened the country’s fight against drugs.

Under the new framework, cases of drug trafficking, possession, and consumption—some of which have previously taken years to conclude—could now be determined within days or weeks.

Police and prosecutors say they are prepared to present and conclude cases with unprecedented speed, a shift they believe will strengthen deterrence and restore confidence in the justice system.

National Police Service spokesperson Michael Muchiri said investigators are ready to move swiftly, noting that the establishment of dedicated courts removes the bottlenecks caused by congested dockets.

“We are ready to even present and conclude the cases within a day or a week. We know there are new courts focused on this issue and we are ready for the war ahead,” he said, adding that at least three new drug-related cases are recorded daily, many of which remain pending in the ordinary courts.

On January 15, 2026, Chief Justice Martha Koome gazetted four courts as Special Magistrates’ Courts to hear and determine cases involving narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances with municipal and international dimensions. The courts—at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Kahawa, Mombasa, and Busia—are located along key entry and transit routes commonly associated with drug trafficking.

Magistrates have already been posted to ensure continuity and speed, with jurisdiction deliberately limited to areas where the menace is most prevalent. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has also deployed specially trained prosecutors to handle the cases, a move expected to reduce adjournments and weak prosecutions that have previously allowed suspects to walk free.

Prosecutors say they are now better positioned to pursue convictions efficiently, while police have been directed to fast-track arrests, file preparation and arraignment.

Justice sector insiders say delays in narcotics cases have historically benefited traffickers, allowing them to exploit procedural gaps, intimidate witnesses or resume operations while cases drag on.

Faster determinations are therefore seen as critical not only to punishing offenders but also to dismantling networks, freezing assets and sending clear signals that drug crimes will no longer be slowed down by the system itself.

The renewed push follows President William Ruto’s declaration of alcohol and drug abuse as a national emergency after intelligence reports revealed alarming levels of consumption, trafficking, and possession across social classes and age groups. 

Officials familiar with the briefings say the President was particularly disturbed by evidence showing narcotics being sold in disguised forms, including edible products, and spreading rapidly among young people.

The urgency was amplified by the October 2025 seizure of more than a tonne of high-purity methamphetamine in the Indian Ocean, an operation that exposed Kenya’s growing vulnerability as a transit, repackaging, and redistribution hub. The drugs, valued at more than Sh8.2 billion, were intercepted following intelligence sharing between regional and international agencies.

Subsequent smaller seizures of similar meth have raised concerns about the depth and reach of the supply chain. In response, President Ruto ordered the strengthening of the AntiNarcotics Unit within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, expanding its personnel from 200 to 700 officers and equipping them with advanced surveillance, intelligence, forensic and financial investigation tools.

A multi-agency team was also established to coordinate a nationwide crackdown on drugs and illicit alcohol, while county governments were directed to set up rehabilitation centres to support recovery and reintegration.

Asset tracing, seizure and forfeiture were placed at the centre of the strategy, with recovered assets earmarked for prevention, treatment and rehabilitation programmes.