NAIROBI, Kenya — The government has launched a nationwide crackdown on illicit brews and drug abuse ahead of the Christmas and New Year festive season, as part of a broader multi-agency security strategy to safeguard public safety.
The operation, spearheaded by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), will target the production, distribution, and consumption of illicit alcohol and narcotics, which authorities say remain a major driver of insecurity, health risks, and social crime during the holiday period.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the government said the crackdown will be conducted jointly by NACADA, the National Police Service (NPS), and National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs), with intensified enforcement across urban centres, informal settlements, and rural areas.
“The trade and abuse of illicit brews and drugs remain a major threat to public safety and security. The Authority will sustain operations to cut the production, sale, and consumption of dangerous substances,” the statement said.
Security agencies noted that the festive season often coincides with a spike in alcohol-related violence, road accidents, domestic abuse, and organised crime, prompting the need for heightened enforcement.
The NACADA-led operation forms part of six coordinated security measures rolled out nationally as Kenyans travel, attend social events, and host large gatherings during the holidays.
Authorities also linked the crackdown to broader efforts to combat organised criminal gangs, with targeted enforcement already underway in Nairobi, the Coast, Western, Nyanza, Central, and Eastern regions.
Beyond enforcement, the government urged communities to remain vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement by reporting illegal brewing dens, drug trafficking, and suspicious activity through toll-free emergency lines 999, 911, and 112.
Public safety agencies emphasised that the festive security plan is intelligence-led and preventive, aimed at protecting lives and property while maintaining law and order throughout the season.
