President William Ruto has declared alcohol and drug abuse a national development and security emergency, warning that nearly five million Kenyans aged 15 to 65 are currently using at least one substance of abuse.
Speaking during a New Year address, the President highlighted that the crisis disproportionately affects men and young adults, with one in every three men and one in five young adults aged 25 to 35 using drugs or abusing alcohol.
“Over 1.5 million young Kenyans are being pulled away from opportunity into dependency,” Ruto said, stressing that alcohol remains the most widely used substance, with more than 3.2 million current users.
2025 data by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) highlights a growing drug abuse crisis in Kenya, particularly among university students and the young working class.
Nationally, approximately 4.7 million Kenyans aged 15–65—about one in six—use at least one substance, with alcohol leading at 3.2 million users, followed by tobacco at 2.3 million, and khat (miraa/muguka).
The most affected group is youth aged 25–35, with over 1.5 million users.
The President noted that initiation often begins between 16 and 20 years, and in some cases as early as seven, exposing children to lifelong harm.
“Kenya cannot grow. Kenya cannot compete or remain secure when millions are trapped in addiction. This crisis demands decisive national action,” he said.
To confront the issue, the head of state said the government will establish a strengthened anti-narcotics unit within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, modeled to operate with a capacity comparable to the anti-terrorism police unit.
The unit will work as a permanent multi-agency formation alongside NACADA, the National Intelligence Service, border management agencies, county governments, and international partners.
President Ruto said the unit’s strength will be boosted from the current 200 to 700 officers through new recruitment and redeployment, all trained and equipped for operations against high-level traffickers, organized criminal networks, and illicit alcohol operations.
He emphasized that asset tracing, seizure, and forfeiture will become central to every narcotics and illicit alcohol investigation, with the Asset Recovery Agency engaged from the point of seizure.
“All assets used or acquired through these activities, including cash, vehicles, land, buildings, and businesses, will be treated as proceeds of crime, promptly frozen, prosecuted, and redirected to rehabilitation, prevention, and treatment programs,” he said.
The President also called for enhanced border security through modern surveillance technologies and urged the judiciary to consider specialized courts to fast-track narcotics-related cases.
Addressing leadership accountability, he stressed, “Leadership will not be judged by promises made, but by performance delivered…those entrusted with the privilege of leadership will be held to account for the service they render and the outcomes they deliver to the people.”
He concluded with a personal appeal to parents and guardians, reminding them to guide and protect their children from addiction.
Ruto reaffirmed that 2026 and the years beyond will mark a period of strict accountability and proactive national action against substance abuse, urging all Kenyans to rise to the challenge.
