Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua/X
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has pledged that his administration would move to stop the entry of hard drugs into Kenya within one year if elected, promising tougher action against drug trafficking and what he described as excessive drinking.
Gachagua said his administration would make the fight against narcotics a priority, targeting substances including heroin, cocaine and cannabis sativa.
“I have given a firm commitment that within one year of our administration, we shall not allow hard drugs-heroin, cocaine, cannabis sativa- through our borders,” Gachagua said during an event in the US.
He said the goal was achievable with political goodwill and firm action by the government and security agencies.
“We threw our borders, and I want to tell you it’s doable. You only need goodwill, political goodwill,” he said.
Gachagua pointed to his previous campaign against illicit alcohol as evidence that his administration could deliver on the promise.
“When I started the war on illicit brews, (others) were saying it’s impossible, and within one year, the campaign was 70 per cent successful,” he said.
He said the same approach could be applied to the fight against narcotics, with security agencies expected to intensify surveillance at Kenya’s borders and target networks involved in trafficking.
Gachagua also pledged to tackle excessive alcohol consumption, saying Kenya needed stronger regulation of the sector.
“We will also regulate drinking out. Kenya is the only country where people drink for 24 hours,” he said.
The former deputy president questioned the impact of a culture in which alcohol outlets operate for extended hours, arguing that the Government needed to strike a balance between the industry and the welfare of citizens.
He recalled his childhood and how alcohol advertising was previously associated with work and leisure.
“You know, long time ago when I was young, and my father used to take one or two to look for sleep. Tusker was being advertised as ‘Tusker baada ya kazi’,” Gachagua said.
“Today, the ‘badala ya kazi’… How do we have a country where alcohol is ‘badala ya kazi’?” he asked.
Gachagua said the proposed measures would form part of a broader agenda to address social problems affecting families and communities.
His remarks come amid continuing concerns over drug trafficking and substance abuse in Kenya, with law enforcement agencies regularly reporting seizures of narcotics at border points, airports and along major transport routes.
Kenya’s strategic location along the Indian Ocean and its extensive road and air connections have made the country a transit point for illicit drugs destined for other markets, according to authorities.
Gachagua said tackling the problem would require political commitment rather than declarations alone.
He maintained that his proposed one-year timeline was achievable if the Government gave security agencies the necessary support and allowed them to act decisively against traffickers.
He also linked the fight against narcotics to efforts to regulate the alcohol industry, arguing that reducing access to harmful substances would help protect young people and families.
The DCP leader's remarks are part of his emerging political platform as he seeks to position himself around issues of security, governance and social welfare.
He said the proposed crackdown would target both the supply of illegal drugs and the wider environment that allows substance abuse to thrive.
Gachagua further promised that his administration would strengthen enforcement at Kenya’s borders, saying stopping narcotics before they enter the country would be central to the strategy.
