NAIROBI, Kenya — The government has announced an expanded, multi-agency crackdown on illicit alcohol and drugs, warning that the scale of substance abuse now poses a serious threat to Kenya’s social stability, public health, and national security.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the renewed push follows a directive by President William Ruto during his New Year address, ordering urgent action to stem the growing prevalence of illegal brews, narcotics, and counterfeit substances across the country.
“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 after convening a high-level security and regulatory meeting in Nairobi on Tuesday.
The meeting brought together senior officials from law enforcement, regulatory bodies, and the Office of the President to chart what Murkomen described as an “enhanced national response” to the problem.
At the centre of the new strategy is the immediate strengthening of the Anti-Narcotics Unit.
Murkomen said additional officers will be deployed without delay, with numbers set to be progressively increased to full operational strength by the end of the year.
“We resolved to immediately strengthen the Anti-Narcotics Unit through the deployment of additional officers,” he said, signalling a shift toward sustained enforcement rather than sporadic operations.
In addition, a multi-agency task force will begin a nationwide crackdown targeting the production, distribution, and sale of illicit ethanol, illegal alcohol, and drugs.
The operation will also focus on dismantling criminal networks behind the trade by seizing assets and property acquired through the proceeds of drug trafficking and illegal alcohol, in line with existing laws.
The government plans to tighten security along ungazetted border points and major transit corridors, which officials say have become key entry routes for illicit substances.
Enhanced patrols and intelligence-led operations are expected to disrupt supply chains feeding both urban and rural markets.
Murkomen said the crackdown would not rely solely on policing.
The multi-agency team will work closely with county governments to strengthen rehabilitation and recovery programmes for people affected by drug and substance abuse, acknowledging the public health dimension of the crisis.
The meeting was attended by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, Chief of Strategy Execution in the Office of the President, Adan Mohamed, DIG Eliud Lagat of the Kenya Police Service, and Gilbert Masengeli of the Administration Police Service, Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin, among other senior officials.
Kenya has for years grappled with recurring waves of deaths and long-term health complications linked to toxic brews and illicit alcohol, particularly in low-income communities.
NACADA data and previous government reports have also pointed to rising drug use among young people, raising concerns about productivity, crime, and social breakdown.
Past crackdowns have often been criticised for being short-lived or selectively enforced, with civil society groups warning that corruption, weak prosecutions, and poor coordination undermine lasting impact.
The Interior Ministry said further operational details would be released as the multi-agency team rolls out the nationwide operation in the coming days, as the government seeks to translate the renewed political directive into measurable reductions in illicit alcohol and drug abuse.
