The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has reiterated its call for enhanced investment in prevention as the most effective approach to tackling substance abuse in Kenya.
Speaking during the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADA) celebrations held in Embu County, NACADA Board Chairman Rev. Dr. Stephen Mairori emphasized that preventing addiction before it starts is both sustainable and cost-effective.
This year’s event was marked under the theme: “The evidence is clear: invest in prevention. Break the cycle. #StopOrganizedCrime.”
Dr. Mairori underscored the role of education, family empowerment, and supportive community environments in shielding youth from the dangers of drugs and alcohol, noting that preventive strategies lay the foundation for long-term health, productivity, and stability.
The Embu event brought together government officials, civil society actors, youth groups, and community leaders in a united call to break the cycle of drug abuse and organized crime, with emphasis on protecting the next generation from the grip of addiction.
Eastern Regional Commissioner Paul Rotich, who presided over the ceremony, commended NACADA’s multi-agency approach in combating the crisis, noting that the authority’s grassroots efforts align with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) by promoting healthier, safer, and more economically active communities.
Rotich stressed that tackling drug abuse goes hand in hand with improving security, reducing healthcare costs, and securing Kenya’s future workforce.
In a show of national solidarity, similar events were held in all 47 counties, with NACADA county coordinators leading community marches, school awareness drives, and inter-agency forums aimed at sensitizing the public on the risks of substance abuse and the importance of prevention.
NACADA said it remains committed to working with both state and non-state actors to deepen prevention programs and curb the growing threat of illicit drugs—particularly among vulnerable populations such as adolescents and urban youth.
