The government has launched an enhanced national campaign
against illicit alcohol and drugs following what Interior Cabinet Secretary
Kipchumba Murkomen described as an alarming surge in substance abuse
threatening the country’s future.
Speaking after convening a high-level multi-agency meeting,
Murkomen said the prevalence of illicit alcohol and narcotics had reached
crisis levels, prompting urgent action under the directive of President William
Ruto.
“The prevalence of illicit alcohol and drugs in our country
has reached alarming levels, posing a serious threat to the future of our
nation,” Murkomen said.
He noted that in his New Year Address, the President
instructed the Ministry of Interior and National Administration to urgently
scale up efforts to combat the menace.
Acting on that directive, Murkomen said the meeting brought
together key law enforcement and regulatory agencies to lay the groundwork for
a coordinated and sustained response.
“In his New Year Address, H.E. the President directed our
Ministry to urgently upscale the fight against this menace,” Murkomen said.
“Today, I convened a multi-agency meeting… to set the ball
rolling on an enhanced national response to the proliferation of illicit
alcohol and drugs.”
A key resolution of the meeting was the immediate
strengthening of the Anti-Narcotics Unit through the deployment of additional
officers.
Murkomen said the numbers would be increased progressively
to reach the required capacity by the end of the year.
“We resolved to immediately strengthen the Anti-Narcotics
Unit through the deployment of additional officers,” he said.
The Interior CS also announced the formation of a
multi-agency task team that will begin work immediately to coordinate a
nationwide crackdown on illicit ethanol and drugs.
The operation will target not only distributors and
traffickers but also the financial gains from the illegal trade.
“This operation will include the seizure of assets and
property acquired from the proceeds of illicit alcohol and drug trafficking, in
accordance with the law,” Murkomen said.
To disrupt supply chains, the government will intensify
policing along ungazetted border points and major transit routes commonly used
to move illicit substances.
Murkomen said these measures are intended to cut off access
points and stem cross-border trafficking.
In addition to enforcement, the government plans to work
closely with county governments to expand rehabilitation and recovery
programmes for individuals affected by substance abuse.
“The team will collaborate closely with county governments
to strengthen rehabilitation and recovery programmes for victims of drug and
substance abuse,” Murkomen said.
The CS said the coordinated approach underscores the
government’s commitment to tackling the crisis through enforcement, prevention,
and rehabilitation, as it seeks to safeguard public health, security, and the
country’s socio-economic future.
The meeting was attended by senior security and government
officials, including Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, Director of
Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin, Deputy Inspectors General Eliud Lagat and
Gilbert Masengeli, NACADA CEO Dr. Anthony Omerikwa, KEBS CEO Dr. Esther Ngari,
and Assets Recovery Agency Director-General Mark Ogonji, among others.
