NAIROBI, Kenya – The proliferation and abuse of alcohol and narcotic substances in Kenya remain a persistent challenge, undermined by weak enforcement, corruption, and political interference, according to the latest Jukwaa la Usalama report handed to President William Ruto on Tuesday.
The report, compiled by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) and county security teams, highlights systemic failures across multiple regions, with chiefs and security officers pointing to poor inter-agency collaboration as a major barrier.
In Nairobi, for instance, administrative officers reported that suspects involved in illicit brewing are often released because only police officers are authorized to present them in court, weakening accountability at the local level.
Enforcement efforts in the North Rift have been stalled by the absence of government chemists, delaying testing of seized alcohol and the preparation of credible prosecution evidence.
Meanwhile, political interference and corruption have emboldened offenders in several counties.
In Tharaka Nithi, an assistant chief was jailed after rogue security officers, allegedly bribed by illicit brewers, retaliated against him for disrupting illegal operations.
Counties including Mombasa, Murang’a, Kakamega, Nakuru, and Nyeri reportedly face widespread corruption among security personnel and licensing officers, who are accused of granting permits to bars near schools and residential areas.
In Kilifi, lenient bail conditions have allowed repeat offenders to resume illegal activity shortly after arrest.
The report also underscores the urgent need for rehabilitation facilities. Adulterated brews, such as those containing industrial ethanol in Makueni, continue to endanger public health.
Experts at the forum called for stronger coordination among National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs), the police, and NACADA, as well as insulating enforcement operations from political influence and reforming licensing and judicial systems.
A recent Rapid Results Initiative (RRI), implemented jointly by the Ministry of Interior, NACADA, and county security teams, aimed to close unlicensed bars, prosecute key offenders, protect whistle-blowers, and audit liquor licenses.
The initiative has reportedly yielded significant results in counties such as Murang’a, Nyeri, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Nyamira, Kilifi, and Bungoma, resulting in numerous arrests, confiscation of illicit alcohol worth millions of shillings, and the reassignment of corrupt police officers.
The report details regional patterns of substance abuse: Western and Nyanza counties report the highest consumption of illicit alcohol like Chang’aa and Kangara, with Homa Bay and Migori leading at 31.4% and 25.1% respectively.
The Coast region and Nairobi are hubs for harder drugs, including heroin, cocaine, and cannabis, while Central Kenya struggles with counterfeit alcohol, and Eastern Kenya is affected by excessive khat (miraa) consumption.
The Jukwaa la Usalama forum recommends a multi-pronged strategy, including demand reduction through public education and school curricula, supply control via digitized licensing and stricter law enforcement, anti-corruption initiatives, decentralization of government chemist services, and the establishment of specialized magistrate courts for expedited handling of drug-related cases.
If implemented effectively, the report notes, these measures could significantly curb substance abuse, improve public health and safety, strengthen institutional capacity at NACADA and county governments, and restore public confidence in law enforcement and the justice system.
“A coordinated, corruption-free approach is essential to protect our communities and secure a healthier, more productive future for Kenya,” the report concludes.
