Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has blamed the rising wave of serious crime in Kenya on rampant drug and substance abuse, vowing to arrest all drug users in Kenya.
He identified the situation as a nationwide issue, calling it a threat to public safety, youth potential, and national development.
Kenya is falling apart
CS Murkomen was speaking during the official launch of the National Policy on the Prevention, Management, and Control of Alcohol, Drugs, and Substance Abuse at Radisson Blu Hotel in Nairobi.
CS Murkomen said drug abuse fuels crime, destabilizes families, and undermines efforts to maintain law and order.
“Let me be clear, every person consuming drugs, whether in the estates, schools, or offices, will be treated as a criminal,” Murkomen declared.
“We are not going to sympathize with people who are actively destroying the future of this country. Drug users will be arrested, prosecuted, and rehabilitated where necessary, but they will not walk free.”
He said his ministry, through the Jukwaa la Usalama programme, had gathered evidence from security forums across 22 counties showing that drug abuse was a top concern everywhere, with communities overwhelmed by addiction-related crimes.
“In every forum, we hear the same message: drugs are destroying lives and fuelling crime. We cannot allow this to continue. We must treat users and dealers as part of the same criminal chain,” he warned.
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The CS criticized a culture of tolerance toward drug use, saying it has emboldened criminals, normalized addiction, and overburdened law enforcement and health systems.
Hardline Strategy by Murkomen
Murkomen promised an unrelenting crackdown on illicit alcohol sellers, drug peddlers, and traffickers.
Police and intelligence units will be mobilized to dismantle supply networks and shut down production dens.
He insisted that administrators must confront the problem head-on, not just with awareness campaigns, but by exposing users, mapping hotspots, and creating localized anti-drug interventions.
Kenya’s strategic location has made it a transit point for international drug cartels, the CS responding by assuring that border surveillance would be overhauled using high-tech equipment to intercept narcotics.
While stressing enforcement, the policy also provides for the rehabilitation of addicts, especially those in the justice system, so they can return to society as “clean, productive citizens.”
No more excuses
In closing his address, Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen made an emotional appeal for national unity in the war against drugs, urging all sectors of society to take responsibility and act decisively in protecting Kenya’s future.
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The CS urged the public to stop excusing or sympathizing with addicts without demanding responsibility and accountability.
“We cannot keep saying ‘they are just victims.’ Every addict hooked to these substances becomes a risk, not just to themselves but to others. Many are resorting to theft, assault, and even murder to sustain their habits,” he stated.
He blamed not only the traffickers and illegal brewers, but also families, community leaders, and institutions that have turned a blind eye to the problem.
Murkomen warned that no amount of policy or policing would succeed without grassroots ownership and collective action.
The Cabinet Secretary also urged national and county governments to collaborate more closely, stressing the importance of resource-sharing, joint programming, and open communication.
He appealed to civil society and faith-based organizations to step up prevention and recovery efforts in communities, and encouraged the private sector to support youth programs, sports initiatives, and job creation as alternatives to drug abuse.
The Interior CS concluded by reaffirming the government’s total commitment to the cause and reiterated that Kenya will not win the war on drugs through security operations alone, but through a united and focused nation.
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