JAN 7 – President William Ruto chaired a multi-agency government team meeting on Wednesday to advance the State’s response to the prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse and related security challenges.
In the implementation of the priorities set out in the New Year Address, the President directed the acceleration of legal, institutional and operational measures to confront alcohol and drug abuse as a national development and security concern, with a focus on prevention, enforcement and recovery.
The meeting agreed that the relevant legal framework will be finalised within the next 10 days to strengthen coordination, enforcement and accountability across government.
At the meeting were Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja, Deputy Inspectors-General Eliud Lang’at and Gilbert Masengeli, DCI Mohammed Amin, NACADA Chairman Stephen Nairobi and CEO Anthony Omerikwa, and KEBS Managing Director Esther Ngari.
In line with the commitment to exhance enforcement capacity, the Inspector-General of Police confirmed that officers have been identified for deployment to the Anti-Narcotics Unit, with resources already provided for their training.
Additional operational support, including vehicles, equipment and logistical resources, will be made available to ensure full readiness.
The President further directed the establishment of rehabilitation centres in all 47 counties, with the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), working closely with county government, to ensure the facilities are fully operational and accessible.
National referral hospitals will also be supported to establish rehabilitation centres to strengthen specialised treatment, counselling and recovery services.
In addition, the Social Health Authority (SHA) will enhance the treatment cover for rehabilitation of persons affected by substance abuse through financing of care, referral pathways, and improvement of recovery outcomes.
To further disrupt drug trafficking networks and related organised crime, the meeting resolved to establish a multi-agency team at five key border points across the country, strengthening surveillance, intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement.
The President reaffirmed the government’s commitment, as outlined in the New Year Address, to a coordinated, whole-of-government approach that integrates enforcement, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation in addressing alcohol and drug abuse.
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