NAIROBI, Kenya- A new Anti-Narcotics Unit is set to be established within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), with the formation expected to receive advanced paramilitary training, modern surveillance tools and enhanced financial investigation capacity comparable to the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit.
President William Ruto announced the move while declaring alcohol and drug abuse a national development and security emergency.
The President said close to five million Kenyans aged between 15 and 65 are abusing drugs, describing the situation as a threat to the country’s health, security and economic future.
“Kenya cannot grow when millions are trapped in addiction,” Ruto said.
We will establish a strengthened anti-narcotics unit within DCI with operational capacity comparable to anti-terrorism unit – Ruto
The strengthened Anti-Narcotics Unit within the DCI will operate as a multi-agency outfit, working with the National Intelligence Service, border management agencies, county governments and international partners.
The unit will also focus on asset tracing and forfeiture linked to narcotics trafficking and illicit alcohol networks, as part of efforts to dismantle organised criminal groups involved in the trade.
As part of the expanded strategy, the government plans to increase the unit’s staffing to 700 officers, strengthen border security and intensify enforcement actions targeting drug trafficking networks.
Ruto said the new DCI unit will have operational capacity comparable to the anti-terrorism unit, signalling a security-led approach to combating alcohol and drug abuse.
The government says the measures are aimed at protecting the youth and safeguarding the country’s long-term social and economic stability.
Ruto vows to confront alcohol and drug abuse like terrorism in 2026 resolutionRead the whole story here: tinyurl.com/26wsy47z
