In a New Year message on Wednesday, the Head of State said substance abuse was no longer a marginal challenge but a “clear and present danger” that must be confronted decisively by government, security agencies and communities alike.
President of the Republic of Kenya Dr. William Ruto
According to government figures, one in every six Kenyans aged 15 to 65 — roughly 4.7 million people currently use at least one drug or substance of abuse, with alcohol remaining the most prevalent.
Ruto said the epidemic hit Kenya’s most productive age groups especially hard, with one in three men and one in five young adults between 25 and 35 affected, pulling them away from opportunity and into dependency.
The President announced a major overhaul of enforcement efforts, expanding the Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ Anti-Narcotics Unit from about 200 to 700 officers, equipped with modern surveillance, intelligence, forensic and financial investigation capabilities to dismantle trafficking networks and their financiers.
He urged stronger border security and tighter operations against cross-border trafficking.
Ruto also said the government will seize and forfeit all assets used in or acquired through the illicit alcohol and drug trade, with recovered resources redirected to rehabilitation, prevention and treatment programmes.
He called for possible specialised courts to fast-track drug-related cases and warned that public officials colluding with traffickers would face prosecution and dismissal.
The declaration comes amid broader government efforts to toughen national policies, including proposed reforms that would raise the minimum legal drinking age to 21 and tighten rules on alcohol availability and advertising measures aimed at safeguarding youth and communities from substance-related harm.
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