MOMBASA, Kenya- The Kenyan government has renewed its commitment to tackling drug abuse and illicit trafficking, warning that substance use has become a major national challenge affecting millions of people, particularly the youth.
Speaking during the commemoration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADA) at the Miritini Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Mombasa County on Friday, government officials called for a united national response combining law enforcement, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.
The event was held under the global theme, “World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses.”
According to the latest National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) survey, about 4.7 million Kenyans aged between 15 and 65 years—roughly one in every six people—currently use at least one drug or substance of abuse.
The Coast region remains the country’s most affected area, with 29.3 per cent of residents reporting the use of at least one substance, while Mombasa County records the highest prevalence at 34.4 per cent.
Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo said the figures represent a growing social and economic crisis that requires coordinated action beyond police operations.
“These are not just statistics. They represent our children, our brothers and sisters, our colleagues, and our future workforce. Behind every number is a life that can either be lost to addiction or restored through timely intervention and support,” he said.
Omollo stressed that while law enforcement remains critical in disrupting drug trafficking networks, sustainable progress will depend on prevention, early intervention, treatment, rehabilitation and successful reintegration of recovering addicts into society.
“While enforcement remains critical, it is only one part of the solution. Sustainable success can only be achieved through a balanced and comprehensive approach that prioritises prevention, early intervention, treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration,” he said.
The government’s resolve has been reinforced by recent successes in the fight against international drug trafficking, including the seizure of 1,024 kilograms of 98 per cent pure crystal methamphetamine valued at approximately Sh8.2 billion in the Indian Ocean.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said security agencies would continue pursuing traffickers through enhanced intelligence gathering and closer collaboration between enforcement agencies.
“Our message is clear. We will continue to strengthen intelligence gathering, enhance inter-agency cooperation, and pursue traffickers relentlessly wherever they operate,” Murkomen said.
NACADA Board Chairman Bishop Dr Stephen Mairori said the authority is increasingly relying on scientific methods to improve surveillance and guide policy decisions.
He highlighted the use of wastewater analysis, which enables authorities to monitor drug consumption patterns in near real-time and respond more effectively to emerging trends.
“If the drug problem is changing, our responses must change with it,” Mairori said.
As part of efforts to involve young people in prevention campaigns, NACADA also recognised winners of a national essay writing competition for secondary school students.
The Mombasa County award went to Omar Mohamed of Kongowea Secondary School for his essay titled “Parental and Community Responsibility in Protecting Learners from Drugs.”
Speakers at the event agreed that government interventions alone will not be enough to reverse the growing drug problem.
They called on parents, teachers, religious leaders, community organisations and the private sector to work together in protecting young people from substance abuse and supporting those seeking recovery.
The commemoration concluded with renewed calls for evidence-based interventions, stronger community participation and sustained investment in prevention programmes, with leaders maintaining that every person rescued from addiction contributes to a healthier and more productive nation.