Kenyan authorities have arrested more than 3,000 people and confiscated 30,000 rolls of bhang in the nationwide crackdown on drugs and substances in the country since January.
The operation according to the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration, Raymond Omollo has also seen over 5,000 non-compliant premises shut down and more than two million litres of illicit alcohol confiscated.
Speaking during the launch of the national survey on the status of drugs and substance use in Kenya 2022 report by Nacada, Omollo termed the statistics on drug and substance abuse as deeply concerning. He noted that more than four million people used drugs in the country in 2022, with the burden becoming worse among young people.
The PS called for parental education and support in this area, saying failure to prioritize it is a missed opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children in the country.
The PS emphasized that the government is committed to taking bold actions to protect citizens from the menace and progressively stepping up the enforcement of the government’s zero-tolerance policy on drugs and alcohol.
Omollo warned that entire populations, both male and female, in urban areas, villages, and informal settlements are affected, with the burden shifting from Nairobi, Coast, Western, and some parts of Nyanza region to North Eastern, Central, and Rift Valley.
He called for urgent action to address the situation, saying that the most productive years lie within the youth age group, which is fast being eroded by alcohol and cannabis.
