NACADA Chief Executive Officer Dr Anthony Omerikwa has urged county governments to adopt tailored approaches to combat drug and substance abuse, warning that the nature of addiction varies across Kenya and requires locally driven solutions.
Omerikwa said a uniform national strategy would not adequately address the diverse challenges facing different regions, calling for interventions that reflect local drug trends, community needs and available rehabilitation services.
He noted that the government was pursuing a two-pronged approach that combines intelligence-led operations to disrupt the supply of illicit substances with demand-reduction measures, including treatment, recovery and rehabilitation.
“We are encouraging county governments to open up rehabilitation centres to accommodate those who are in need,” Omerikwa said.
His remarks come amid renewed calls for county administrations to establish rehabilitation facilities in line with President William Ruto’s directive that every county should have centres to support people battling addiction.
Omerikwa also urged the private sector to invest in rehabilitation facilities to expand access to treatment and reduce the burden on existing services.
He said the Social Health Authority (SHA) covers rehabilitation among its benefits, adding that addiction is a relapsing condition that requires sustained medical care, counselling and long-term support.
The NACADA boss explained that substance abuse patterns differ significantly across the country, making it necessary for authorities to develop responses suited to individual counties.
He cited counties in the northern frontier, where alcohol may be less accessible but the misuse of pharmaceutical drugs remains a concern.
“Every county has its own county-specific challenges,” he said, pointing to discussions under the Jukwaa platform that highlighted the importance of designing interventions based on local realities.
The approach, he said, would enable county governments and relevant agencies to identify the substances most commonly abused in their areas and direct resources towards the most urgent needs.
Omerikwa also warned that illegal alcohol and drug production could be taking place in residential neighbourhoods, urging residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to authorities.
He recounted a recent operation in which authorities reportedly uncovered an operation bottling ethanol in an affluent, gated neighbourhood comprising only eight houses, all fitted with closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.
Despite the security installations, he said, neighbours raised concerns about suspicious activities only after authorities raided the premises.
The incident, according to Omerikwa, demonstrated that sophisticated security systems alone cannot replace community vigilance and timely reporting of suspected criminal activities.
He called for closer cooperation between residents and law enforcement agencies to help identify and dismantle illegal production and distribution networks.
Omerikwa maintained that enforcement alone would not end drug and substance abuse, stressing the need to combine the disruption of illicit supply chains with accessible treatment and recovery programmes.
He said expanding rehabilitation services across counties would help more people access professional support while reducing the stigma associated with addiction.
The NACADA chief executive called for coordinated efforts involving national and county governments, private investors, communities and healthcare providers to address the problem.
He said a combination of targeted enforcement, public awareness and sustained rehabilitation support would be critical to protecting communities and helping people recover from substance abuse.
