Eight foreign nationals rescued from unlicensed rehab centre in Kajiado

The dawn operation targeted Ehsan Rehabilitation Centre, which NACADA said had been operating for six months without the agency's accreditation. Officials have recommended the facility's immediate closure following the inspection.

Those rescued comprised five United States citizens, two Canadians and one British national.

The operation involved officers from NACADA, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), County Public Health services, the National Police Service and officials from the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.

According to NACADA, inspectors found patients had remained at the facility for prolonged periods without documented clinical justification, treatment reviews or discharge plans. The agency also cited the absence of a structured rehabilitation programme and said the centre failed to meet national standards governing addiction treatment.

NACADA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Anthony Omerikwa said the alleged involuntary detention of patients violated professional and legal standards governing rehabilitation services.

"Rehabilitation is a voluntary, therapeutic process founded on respect for human dignity, individual rights and professional standards of care. The involuntary detention of clients, including foreign nationals, without lawful authority or due process is unacceptable," said Dr. Omerikwa.

Dr. Omerikwa warned that facilities found unlawfully detaining patients or violating their rights would face regulatory and legal action.

The agency said the case has been referred to law enforcement agencies for further investigations into the operations of the facility and possible prosecution of those responsible.