The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has officially launched the 2026 National Senior School Essay Writing Competition on Alcohol and Drug Use Prevention, targeting senior school learners across Kenya.
The nationwide competition seeks to empower students to actively participate in the fight against alcohol and drug abuse through critical thinking, reflection, and positive advocacy. It is open to all senior school students in Grades 10, 11 and 12.
This year’s competition is themed “Protecting Our Future: Making Drug-Free Choices in School and Beyond”, and forms part of NACADA’s renewed national strategy to intensify prevention efforts.
The initiative follows a directive by President William Samoei Ruto to strengthen the fight against alcohol and drug abuse, particularly among young people, underscoring the Government’s focus on demand reduction through early prevention, education, and youth empowerment.
Participants are required to submit one original, handwritten essay of between 800 and 1,000 words, written in either English or Kiswahili. The essays must be original, unpublished, and submitted no later than Friday, 28th March 2026.
Through the competition, NACADA aims to raise awareness on the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse, promote responsible decision-making, and strengthen life skills among learners.
The initiative is aligned with Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and the Life Skills Education framework, reinforcing key competencies such as critical thinking, self-efficacy, citizenship, andeffective communication.
Students may choose to write on topics covering peer pressure, academic performance, the role of schools in prevention, parental and community responsibility, and the importance of positive peer support in addressing substance abuse. All submissions must be accompanied by a duly signed and stamped entry form endorsed by the school principal or head teacher.
Winning essays will be published in the NACADA newsletter, with awards set to be presented during the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADA) on 26th June 2026. Teachers of winning students will also receive recognition certificates.
Further details, including competition guidelines and entry forms, are available on the NACADA website at www.nacada.go.ke
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