The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to fighting the production, distribution and consumption of illicit drugs and alcohol, advancing nationwide efforts to protect communities and safeguard young people, particularly in Mombasa County.
In a statement on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Interior and National Administration, Raymond Omollo, said the government’s approach is rooted in a Presidential Proclamation on Alcohol and Drug Control, which calls for a “whole-of-government” strategy involving enforcement, prevention, rehabilitation and asset recovery.
“The Government remains firmly committed to curbing the production, distribution and consumption of illicit drugs and alcohol, in line with the Presidential Proclamation on Alcohol and Drug Control,” PS Omollo said, adding that the strategy emphasises coordinated action across government ministries and agencies.
He stressed that in Mombasa County, the policy is translating into intelligence-led, coordinated operations that are targeting criminal syndicates involved in drug trafficking and illicit alcohol production.
“In Mombasa County, this resolve is translating into coordinated, intelligence-led operations that are dismantling drug networks, disrupting supply chains and denying criminal syndicates the benefits of their illicit trade,” the PS said.
The operations, carried out by multiple security and enforcement agencies, have resulted in the arrest of offenders, closure of illegal activities and forfeiture of assets to the State to support rehabilitation and prevention efforts.
“Through strengthened anti-narcotics enforcement, offenders are being arrested, illegal operations shut down, and criminal assets forfeited to the State to support recovery and prevention efforts,” Omollo added.
Specialised Courts
Omollo also highlighted ongoing justice reforms aimed at expediting the handling of drug-related cases through specialised courts to ensure swift and consistent accountability. These reforms align with government plans to reinforce the legal process and reduce backlogs of drug cases, ensuring those arrested are brought to trial efficiently.
The Port of Mombasa and other key entry points have been identified as strategic focus areas in the crackdown. According to the PS, the Border Control and Operations Coordinating Committee (BCOCC) is leading multi-agency surveillance operations to tighten security and seal off traditional trafficking routes.
This follows broader national directives to enhance enforcement along borders and transit corridors, a push that Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen described as urgently necessary during a high-level multi-agency meeting in January 2026. Murkomen warned that the prevalence of illicit alcohol and drugs had reached “alarming levels” and pledged stronger border policing and more anti-narcotics personnel across the country.
Kenya’s intensified action against drug and alcohol abuse takes place against a backdrop of expanded national policy and enforcement. In July 2025, the government launched its first-ever National Drug and Alcohol Policy, which focuses on law enforcement, community engagement, border control and rehabilitation as key pillars in addressing substance abuse. Interior CS Murkomen described the policy as a “renewed commitment” to protect public health and national security.
The fight is not limited to Mombasa. Counties such as Kwale have also declared “all-out war” on illicit drugs and bootleg liquor, pledging intensified intelligence-driven operations and greater community reporting to dismantle networks that supply these substances.
Authorities have also intercepted large consignments of narcotics off the coast, including a multi-agency naval operation that seized over a ton of methamphetamine in 2025 — a haul estimated to be worth millions of dollars — highlighting the cross-border nature of the challenge.
The government says the integrated strategy will not only curb the supply and consumption of illicit drugs and alcohol but also contribute to long-term socio-economic stability, particularly by protecting youth and vulnerable communities from the harms associated with addiction.
Read: Shocking Details of Drugs Often Abused by High School Students
>>> KRA Seizes Ksh281M Worth of Contraband Cigarettes at Mombasa Port
Leave a comment