The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has welcomed President William Ruto’s New Year address, which underscored the government’s commitment to addressing alcohol and substance abuse as a critical national issue.
In his New Year’s message to Kenyans, President Ruto reaffirmed the government’s resolve to confront alcohol and drug abuse due to its impact on public health, national security, productivity, and social cohesion.
NACADA says that it fully aligns with this national direction and reiterates its commitment to ensuring that Kenya becomes a nation free from the harms of alcohol and drug abuse.
“The NACADA Board will strengthen operational and governance frameworks in line with the President’s address and expressed concerns, while leveraging enhanced multi-agency cooperation to reinforce prevention, enforcement, and public education interventions,” NACADA Board Chairperson Stephen K. Mairor says in a statement.
Mairori says that through stronger policy measures, coordinated action, and sustained collaboration across government agencies and stakeholders, NACADA remains resolute in safeguarding the well-being of all Kenyans.
National development/security emergency
In his address at Eldoret State Lodge on Wednesday, December 31 night, President Ruto declared alcohol and drug abuse a national development and security emergency, unveiling sweeping measures to confront what he described as a growing threat to Kenya’s health, productivity and stability.
A 2022 survey by NACADA and the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) revealed that one in every six Kenyans aged between 15 and 65 — more than 4.7 million people — is currently using at least one drug or substance of abuse. President Ruto warned that the crisis had escalated beyond a social problem into a full-blown national emergency.
Alcohol remains the most widely used substance, with more than 3.2 million current users. He expressed concern that initiation into substance abuse often occurs between the ages of 16 and 20, with some cases reported as early as seven years old.
Ruto said Kenya’s economic growth and security are at risk if millions of citizens remain trapped in addiction, particularly young people who form the country’s most productive population.
“We appreciate His Excellency the President’s leadership and goodwill in the fight against alcohol and drug abuse in the country and commit our unwavering commitment to the realization of a healthy nation,” Mairori added.
