NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 17 — The Judiciary has designated four Magistrates’ Courts as Special Magistrates’ Courts to handle narcotics trafficking and related offences, in a move aimed at strengthening Kenya’s legal response to drug-related crimes.
In a gazette notice dated January 16, Chief Justice Martha Koome appointed the JKIA Magistrates’ Court, Kahawa Magistrates’ Court, Mombasa Magistrates’ Court and Busia Magistrates’ Court to hear and determine narcotics cases.
The designation seeks to fast-track prosecutions, enhance coordination with investigative agencies and ensure greater consistency in the handling of drug-related matters.
The move comes amid intensified national efforts to curb drug trafficking, substance abuse and the security challenges associated with the illicit trade.
It follows a high-level multi-agency meeting chaired by President William Ruto on January 7 as part of efforts to step up the State’s response to alcohol and drug abuse across the country.
The meeting, convened in line with priorities outlined in the President’s New Year Address, focused on accelerating legal, institutional and operational interventions, with emphasis on prevention, enforcement and rehabilitation.
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New framework
During the meeting, President Ruto directed the finalisation of the relevant legal framework within 10 days to improve coordination, enforcement and accountability among government agencies involved in the fight against drugs.
The meeting brought together key security and policy leaders, including Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja, Deputy Inspectors-General Eliud Lang’at and Gilbert Masengeli, Director of Criminal Investigations Mohammed Amin, NACADA Chairman Stephen Nairobi, NACADA Chief Executive Officer Anthony Omerikwa and Kenya Bureau of Standards Managing Director Esther Ngari.
As part of enhanced enforcement measures, the Inspector-General of Police confirmed the identification of officers for deployment to the Anti-Narcotics Unit, with resources already allocated for their training.
Additional operational support, including vehicles, equipment and logistics, has also been provided to ensure readiness for nationwide operations.
In a landmark directive, President Ruto ordered the establishment of rehabilitation centres in all forty-seven counties, with NACADA coordinating closely with county governments.
The directive also requires national referral hospitals to set up rehabilitation facilities to provide specialised treatment, counselling and recovery services.
Multi-agency enforcement
The Social Health Authority (SHA) will expand coverage by financing rehabilitation care, streamlining referral pathways and improving recovery outcomes.
To further disrupt drug trafficking networks and organised crime, the government resolved to establish multi-agency enforcement teams at five key border points to enhance surveillance, intelligence sharing and coordinated action.
On Friday, Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen announced that the government has set a deadline to end drug trafficking and abuse in Kenya within the year.
Speaking in Mombasa after a high-level security and service delivery meeting with leaders from the six Coastal counties, Murkomen said the directive came directly from President Ruto.
“This is the year we must eliminate the problem of drugs in the country,” Murkomen said, noting that while recent seizures demonstrate progress, they also highlight the scale of the challenge.
He cited the interception of synthetic drugs worth approximately Sh8 billion in the high seas, alongside continued seizures of cannabis entering the country through porous borders, including the northern corridor.
Property seizures
Under a new strategy, Murkomen said authorities will move beyond arrests to dismantle drug trafficking networks by seizing traffickers’ properties, selling them and using the proceeds to fund the construction of rehabilitation centres.
“We are not just going for the drugs or the traffickers. We are going for their properties,” he said.
County governments will to provide land for rehabilitation centres, with Mombasa and other Coastal counties already identifying suitable parcels.
Murkomen linked drug abuse to juvenile gangs and insecurity in parts of the Coast, noting substance abuse plays a major role in drawing the youth to crime.
He added that while security agencies have made progress in curbing gang activity, including the so-called “panga boys”, sustained efforts will continue.
To prevent relapse, leaders proposed engaging affected youth through public works programmes similar to Kazi Mtaani and supporting their enrolment in technical and vocational colleges.
