The government has announced a major policy shift in the war against drugs and illicit alcohol, vowing to freeze and seize the assets and wealth of suspected drug barons and traders dealing in adulterated alcoholic products.
Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Wednesday the state will now focus on dismantling the financial networks of individuals fueling the vice by engaging the Asset Recovery Agency (ARA) under the Attorney General’s office.
“It will no longer be business as usual. We will be engaging the Asset Recovery Agency to make it more punitive for those involved in this trade by seizing their lorries, vehicles, equipment, businesses, and all assets acquired through these illegal activities.” said Murkomen
The CS made the remarks during the launch of the National Policy on Prevention, Management, and Control of Alcohol, Drug, and Substance Abuse in Nairobi, noting that illicit drug and alcohol trade has continued to thrive, aided by lenient court fines and political interference.
Murkomen lamented that drug and alcohol abuse has destroyed families, compromised public health, fueled crime, and robbed the youth of their potential.
He accused some political leaders of shielding perpetrators under the guise of defending constituents, revealing that during public engagements under Jukwaa la Usalama, several complaints against police officers had been traced back to vested interests in the illicit trade.
“These politicians call us, claiming an OCS is not doing a good job, only to discover later they are protecting those selling dangerous sachets and adulterated liquor,” he said.
Murkomen also called out law enforcement officers complicit in the vice, warning that those found condoning illegal activities would face dismissal and prosecution.
He emphasized the need for a grassroots approach to the war, beginning with village elders, assistant chiefs, chiefs, and OCSs, while also urging the judiciary to reconsider the existing legal frameworks that allow suspects to escape justice through technicalities and low evidence thresholds.
The CS proposed that part of the recovered proceeds should be channeled into building rehabilitation centers and funding public awareness programs.
“Some of these proceeds from seized accounts can be used to build rehab centers, create awareness, and treat victims. This is not just about punishment, it’s also about healing our society,” he said.
He urged court users’ associations to engage magistrates and judges in tightening the legal response to drug and alcohol crimes at the local level.
