Gov’t Steps Up War on Drugs with 47-County Rehab Plan

The government will establish rehabilitation centres in all 47 counties as part of renewed efforts to curb the growing problem of drug and substance abuse in the country.

President William Ruto made the announcement while chairing a multi-agency meeting at State House, Nairobi, on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. He said the rehabilitation services will be implemented through a collaborative framework involving the national government, county governments, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), and national referral hospitals.

In addition, the President said the Social Health Authority (SHA) will enhance health insurance coverage to support the treatment and recovery of individuals affected by substance abuse, making rehabilitation services more accessible to vulnerable populations.

To stem drug trafficking and dismantle organised criminal networks, President Ruto announced that multi-agency border teams will be deployed at five key entry points into the country to seal loopholes used by traffickers.

“Our focus remains clear—we will apply a whole-of-government approach that integrates prevention, enforcement, treatment, and recovery to safeguard our people and protect national security,” the President said.

He further noted that relevant legal frameworks are being finalised to strengthen coordination and accountability across government agencies, while additional personnel will be deployed to reinforce the Anti-Narcotics Unit.

During his New Year’s Address, President Ruto reiterated the government’s resolve to introduce tougher penalties for drug traffickers and peddlers, describing them as a grave threat to the nation’s future.

“People selling heroin and cocaine are destroying our children. They sell to other people’s children while their own do not use these drugs,” the President said. He added that while existing laws impose fines of up to Sh1 million, proposed legal reforms would elevate drug trafficking to a capital offence, with offenders facing the ultimate penalty.

Despite the critical role rehabilitation centres play in addressing drug and substance abuse, the country continues to grapple with a severe shortage of such facilities. Most existing rehabilitation centres are privately run and prohibitively expensive, placing them out of reach for the majority of Kenyans—particularly those in low-income and informal settlements.

According to the 2022 National Survey on the Status of Drugs and Substance Use in Kenya by NACADA, more than two million people—mostly young adults—were using at least one drug or substance. The survey identified the 25–35 age group, particularly out-of-school youth, as one of the most vulnerable segments to substance use and dependence.

A separate NACADA baseline survey found that about 45.2 per cent of residents in the Coast region have used at least one substance of abuse at some point in their lives. The data further shows that Mombasa County records the highest rate of current substance use in the region, with 34.4 per cent of residents reportedly using at least one substance.