Principal Secretary of Internal Security and National Administration, Dr. Raymond Omollo, has termed a strategic plan by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) as a key guide in addressing and drug menace in Kenya.
NACADA’s Strategic Plan (2023-2027) contains concrete and deliberate measures aimed at not only enhancing the level of success achieved in the fight against alcohol and drug abuse but also, how the momentum is sustained. It will guide the war against alcohol and drug abuse for the next 5 years.
“Thus the government has taken action to ensure the safety and compliance of alcohol production through issuing 25 directives to ensure compliance and quality standards,” PS Omollo said on the Ministry’s plan to combat the menace.
According to Omollo, the policy will ensure suspension of licences of alcohol distillers and manufactures until a vetting of all alcohol manufacturers is done.
The PS said that smuggling, counterfeits, unregistered brands, substitution/refills, tax leakage and Illicit artisanal alcohol occasioned the suspension of all licenses and certification permits for second-generation and alcohol distillers and manufacturers. This is pending a comprehensive vetting of all alcohol manufacturers.
In 2024 NACADA declared Rift Valley, Nyanza, Western, Central and Nairobi the worst affected regions.
This led the Ministry of Interior to conduct 61,769 raids that saw the seizure of 342,088 litres of changáa and 2,553,108 litres of kangara confiscated. They also seized 70,743 litres of counterfeit alcohol and closed 15,538 alcohol outlets and 381 shisha joints.
In addition to that they confiscated 6,047 kilogrammes of bhang and a total of 29,898 arrests were made.
“According to statistics in Kenya, alcohol is the most socially abused drug substance in Kenya with the average age for initiation of alcohol use in Kenya being 16 years. Further close to o 40% of alcohol users are youths with 1 in every 7 Kenyans aged 25 – 35years (1,137,288) currently using alcohol with over half (596,336) being addicted,” stated Omollo.
The Principal Secretary reiterated the need for collaborative efforts between parents and the county government to tame abuse of drugs and alcohol.
