Kisumu: The government has intensified its war on drugs, contraband cigarettes, and illicit brews, with Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni warning that rising substance abuse among young people is fast becoming a national crisis. Muthoni stated that the State will combine tougher enforcement with expanded rehabilitation services to curb the spread of harmful substances in estates, villages, and learning institutions.
According to Kenya News Agency, Muthoni issued a stern warning over the rising use of drugs, nicotine products, and illicit brews, particularly among young people, while speaking at Angola Health Centre in Kisumu East Sub-County. She called on county governments and national administrators to work closely to shut down illegal outlets operating in residential areas.
Muthoni emphasized the importance of stopping the sale and use of drugs in communities and urged county commissioners, chiefs, and Community Health Promoters (CHPs) to be vigilant. She highlighted that the fight against drugs and illicit substances requires a coordinated effort, noting that enforcement officers may not succeed without support from local authorities and residents.
The PS challenged county governments to take greater responsibility, especially in regulating and licensing businesses, as some illegal outlets operate under the guise of legitimate permits. She cited the Tobacco Control Act of 2007 as the primary legal framework guiding enforcement against illegal and unregulated tobacco and nicotine products.
Concerns were raised over cigarettes labeled 'only for sale in Kenya,' questioning their safety and authenticity. Muthoni warned that some unregulated tobacco and nicotine products on the market are linked to throat and lung cancers and may be mixed with other dangerous substances with unknown long-term health effects.
Government agencies have stepped up surveillance and laboratory testing to determine the composition of suspicious products entering the Kenyan market. Several consignments of contraband cigarettes have already been seized and destroyed in Nairobi and Eldoret, with another destruction exercise planned in Mombasa next week.
At the grassroots level, Community Health Promoters will play a key role in identifying families affected by drug and substance abuse and linking them to care. Chiefs and other local administrators are also urged to step up community surveillance and reporting.
The government's strategy extends beyond arrests and seizures, with a focus on treating individuals struggling with addiction as patients in need of help. Plans are in place to establish cessation and rehabilitation centers across the country to support those seeking to quit tobacco, nicotine, and other substances, alongside expanded mental health services to address the link between substance abuse and mental health challenges among young people.