The government is set to open rehabilitation centres across all 47 counties as part of a nationwide drive to tackle alcohol and drug abuse, President William Ruto has announced.
The plan combines prevention, law enforcement, treatment, and recovery, signaling a comprehensive response to what the President has described as a national development and security emergency.
Speaking after a multi-agency meeting on Wednesdat which was aimed at fast-tracking commitments from his New Year Address, Ruto said the initiative will be implemented in collaboration with county governments and the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA). Treatment and recovery support will also be expanded through the Social Health Authority.
“We will establish rehabilitation centres in all 47 counties, working closely with county governments and NACADA, alongside strengthened rehabilitation services in national referral hospitals,” the President said. He added that the Social Health Authority “will enhance the cover for treatment and recovery.”
President William Ruto Chairing a multi-agency meeting to accelerate response to alcohol and drug abuse on January 7,2026 in State House, Nairobi.PHOTO/PCSTo improve government coordination and accountability, Ruto said a legal framework guiding the fight against alcohol and drug abuse will soon be finalized.
“The relevant legal framework will be finalized to strengthen coordination and accountability across government,” he said. He also revealed that additional officers are being trained and deployed to the Anti-Narcotics Unit, fully equipped with logistical support.
The President said the crackdown will target both supply chains and organized crime.
Multi-agency border teams will be stationed at five major entry points to “disrupt drug trafficking and organized crime,” forming part of a broader national security strategy.
“Our focus remains clear—we will apply a whole-of-government approach integrating prevention, enforcement, treatment and recovery to safeguard our people and national security,” Ruto said, highlighting the government’s commitment to a multi-pronged strategy.
The move comes days after the President declared alcohol and drug abuse a national emergency. Speaking in Eldoret on December 31, 2025, he noted the crisis affects men and young adults disproportionately.
“Over 1.5 million young Kenyans are being pulled away from opportunity into dependency,” he said, pointing out that alcohol remains the most widely used substance, with over 3.2 million current users.
Data from NACADA for 2025 shows a growing problem across the country, particularly among university students and young working adults.
Around 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 youth aged 25–35 remain the hardest hit, with more than 1.5 million users.
