President William Ruto has announced new stringent measures to curb alcohol and drug abuse, describing it as a silent but deadly crisis facing the nation today.
Accordingly, going into the new year, the government, he said, will confront alcohol and drug abuse as a national development and security emergency, backed by political will, expanded enforcement capacity, and coordinated action across the government.
In his New Year’s address, President Ruto said, a beefed up Anti-Narcotics Unit will be established within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, with operational capacity comparable to the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit.
He said that the new Anti-Narcotics Unit will be equipped with modern surveillance, intelligence, forensic, and financial investigation capabilities adding that the unit will operate as a permanent, multiagency formation working closely with the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).
An additional 500 police officers will be deployed to the Unit from the current 200, bringing the total number to 700, the Head of State announced.
“Kenya cannot grow, compete, or remain secure when millions are trapped in addiction,” President Ruto said. “Alcohol and drug abuse have become a clear and present danger to Kenya’s health, security, and economic future,” he reiterated.
ALARMING NUMBERS
Noting that one in every six Kenyans aged between 15 and 65, that is over 4.7 million people, is currently using at least one drug or substance of abuse, the President urged Kenyans to join the fight, terming it as a national emergency.
He further said that one in every three Kenyan men in this age group uses drugs or alcohol.
“This crisis demands decisive national action,” the President said. “The burden falls heaviest on men and young people,” he added.
“Among young adults aged 25 to 35, our most productive population, one in five is affected. Over 1.5 million young Kenyans are being pulled away from opportunity into dependency,” he emphasized.
He said that the 700-strong police unit will be trained, equipped and deployed for nationwide operations against high-level traffickers, financiers, and organised criminal networks. The Anti-Narcotics Unit will also work closely with the National Intelligence Service, Border Management Agencies, County Governments and International Partners.
According to the data President Ruto released, alcohol remains the most used substance with children between 16-20 hooked to it. He added that 3.2 million are battling alcohol addiction.
Initiation often occurs between 16 and 20 years, and in some cases as early as seven, exposing children to lifelong harm before adulthood begins, he said.
OTHER MEASURES
In stepping up the fight, President Ruto announced other stringent measures including asset tracing, seizure, and forfeiture saying this will become central to every narcotic and illicit alcohol investigation.
He said that the Assets Recovery Agency will be engaged from the point of seizure, and all assets used in or acquired through these activities, including cash, vehicles, land, buildings, and businesses, will be treated as proceeds of crime, promptly frozen, prosecuted, forfeited to the State, and redirected to rehabilitation, prevention, and treatment programmes.
At the same time, the Head of State maintained that those engaging in the illicit alcohol and drug business fall under the category of organised criminal enterprises adding that they will be dealt with as such.
Underscoring the need to respect the independence of the judiciary, President Ruto called upon the Chief Justice to consider establishing specialised courts to fast-track cases. He said soon be meeting the leadership of the Judiciary to deliberate over the matter.
Border security will be strengthened through enhanced capacity for the Border Patrol Unit and the National Police Service, including modern surveillance technologies to monitor movement across our borders, President Ruto said.
To safeguard integrity within the security services, President Ruto said any government official, including security officers, found culpable of facilitating, protecting, or colluding with drug traffickers or illicit alcohol networks will be prosecuted and dismissed forthwith from service.
“Fellow citizens, this struggle is deeply personal to me, as your President, and as a parent. No law can replace parental guidance, community values, or early intervention in the lives of our children,” he affirmed.
“We must choose to be present in the lives of our children; to guide them, protect them, and intervene early, before addiction takes hold,” he added.
