By Habil Onyango
For a long time, drug and substance abuse has been a major challenge facing Kenyans, especially the youth.
Many affected families struggle to afford rehabilitation services due to their high costs.
Additionally, some individuals have exploited vulnerable families by opening unauthorized rehabilitation centers across the country, taking advantage of the scarcity of legitimate facilities and fleecing those in need.
Recently, the National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) ordered the immediate shutdown of 15 rehabilitation centers in Kenya after inspectors uncovered serious breaches that endangered patients.
Chief Executive Officer Anthony Omerikwa explained that this decision followed a Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) conducted in November 2025.
During this initiative, a multi-agency team reviewed 236 treatment facilities across 36 counties. The findings revealed that only 135 centers met the required standards and were granted full accreditation.
These compliant facilities provide close to 3,800 residential beds, highlighting the limited capacity available for safe treatment nationwide.
NACADA emphasized that the closures are intended to protect vulnerable patients and ensure that only properly licensed and well-managed institutions continue to operate.
In response, the National Government, in collaboration with County Governments, is planning to construct rehabilitation centers in every county.
According to Dr. Raymond Omollo, the Permanent Secretary in charge of Internal Security and National Administration, this initiative aims to combat drug addiction across the country.
“It is true we do not have adequate rehabilitation centers across the country. This issue has been caused by the underinvestment and underdevelopment that we, as a government and a country, have failed to address over the years,” said the PS.
“This is not a new phenomenon; it is a historical problem we have been facing as a country,” Omollo added.
Under the guidance of President William Ruto, the government will work with County Governments through the Council of Governors to ensure that every county has a rehabilitation center.
“The County Governments will be tasked with providing a piece of land, and the government will construct the facility, which the counties themselves will run due to their responsibilities in managing this challenge,” he stated.
The PS further revealed that treatment and care for patients at the centers will now be included in the Universal Health Care program through the Social Health Authority to make costs more manageable.
“In the past, drug addiction has been viewed differently, but it is a disease like any other,” he said.
“As a society, we must treat drug addiction with the same care we provide for other diseases that Kenyans are struggling with,” Omollo emphasized.
According to recent reports from NACADA and related studies (2022–2025), general population statistics indicate that one in every six Kenyans (approximately 4.7 million people) aged 15–65 is currently using at least one drug or substance of abuse.
The statistics further reveal that one in every three males uses at least one drug, compared to one in every sixteen females, with alcohol being the most widely used substance, followed by tobacco, khat (miraa), and cannabis.
The report indicates that one in every eight Kenyans (3.2 million) consumes alcohol, while one in every twelve (2.3 million) uses tobacco. Approximately 10.4 percent of the population suffers from alcohol use disorders, and 6.8% have tobacco use disorders.
“Today, literally every household faces this issue; whether it’s from immediate family or someone close to you, everyone is struggling with alcohol or other drug and substance addictions, which shows the severity of the situation,” said Omollo.
“People who should be actively engaged in nation-building are completely unable to do so, which has also affected our society in terms of morals,” he added.
Ends.
