More than 4.7 million Kenyans aged between 15 and 65 are currently using at least one drug or substance of abuse, with the Coast region emerging as the country’s worst-hit area, according to the latest National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) survey.
The alarming statistics were revealed on Thursday during Kenya’s commemoration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADA) at the Miritini Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Mombasa County.
The event, held under the theme “World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses,” brought together senior government officials, recovery advocates and community leaders to renew the country’s commitment to combating drug abuse, which President William Ruto has declared a national emergency.
According to the survey, one in every six Kenyans within the 15 to 65 age bracket is using at least one drug or substance of abuse.
The Coast region recorded the highest prevalence at 29.3 per cent, while Mombasa County emerged as the country’s most affected county, with 34.4 per cent of residents reported to be using at least one substance.
Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo described the findings as a stark reminder of the scale of the crisis facing the country.
“These are not just statistics. They represent our children, our brothers and sisters, our colleagues, and our future workforce. Behind every number is a life that can either be lost to addiction or restored through timely intervention and support,” Omollo said.
The PS reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling the drug menace through a comprehensive strategy that goes beyond arrests and prosecutions.
“While enforcement remains critical, it is only one part of the solution. Sustainable success can only be achieved through a balanced and comprehensive approach that prioritizes prevention, early intervention, treatment, rehabilitation, and social reintegration,” he said.
The government’s resolve was recently demonstrated through the interception of 1,024 kilograms of 98 per cent pure crystal methamphetamine valued at KSh8.2 billion in the Indian Ocean, one of the country’s largest drug seizures in recent years.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said security agencies would continue pursuing drug traffickers through enhanced intelligence and coordinated operations.
“Our message is clear. We will continue to strengthen intelligence gathering, enhance inter-agency cooperation, and pursue traffickers relentlessly wherever they operate,” Murkomen said.
NACADA Board Chairman Bishop Dr Stephen Mairori said the authority is embracing technology to improve its response to the evolving drug problem, including the use of wastewater analysis to monitor drug consumption patterns in near real time.
“If the drug problem is changing, our responses must change with it,” Mairori said.
The event also highlighted efforts to engage young people in the fight against drug abuse.
NACADA recognised winners of its National Essay Writing Competition for secondary school students, with Mombasa County winner Omar Mohamed of Kongowea Secondary School receiving accolades for his essay on “Parental and Community Responsibility in Protecting Learners from Drugs.”
Speakers at the event emphasized that government interventions alone would not be sufficient to reverse the growing drug crisis.
Omollo called for a whole-of-society approach, urging parents, teachers, religious leaders, community organisations and the private sector to work together in preventing substance abuse and supporting rehabilitation efforts.
The annual International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed globally on June 26 to raise awareness of the dangers posed by illicit drugs and to strengthen international cooperation in addressing drug-related challenges.
Officials said Kenya will continue investing in evidence-based prevention programmes, rehabilitation services and innovative strategies aimed at protecting young people from addiction and reducing the social and economic impact of substance abuse.
“Every life saved from addiction strengthens our nation. Together, we can build a Kenya where our young people are healthy, productive, and empowered to contribute to national development,” Murkomen said.
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