NACADA shuts down two rehab centres in Makueni and Kilifi over safety violations

The closures followed separate compliance inspections conducted by NACADA’s Compliance and Enforcement team in collaboration with other government agencies.

In Makueni County, inspectors visited At Good Hope Rehabilitation Centre in Mtito Andei and found the facility operating under unsafe conditions despite continuing to admit patients. Officials cited cracked walls, missing ceilings, ongoing construction work, poor sanitation, inadequate kitchen hygiene, and unsafe borehole water as some of the concerns raised during the inspection.

The team also reported the absence of proper medical waste disposal systems and a shortage of qualified personnel, including counsellors, psychologists, and medical officers. Investigators further established that the facility lacked individual treatment plans, substance-use monitoring systems, and structured rehabilitation and aftercare programmes.

Following the inspection, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) issued a closure notice and directed the transfer of the facility’s 14 clients to other accredited rehabilitation centres.

In Kilifi County, NACADA inspectors raided The Omari Project rehabilitation centre, which was reportedly still under construction. The facility housed two patients at the time of the inspection.

According to officials, the centre failed to meet required rehabilitation standards, with inspectors citing poor hygiene, lack of structured treatment programmes, and improper handling and storage of medicines.

The two patients were transferred to NACADA’s Miritini Treatment and Rehabilitation Facility, while medicines found at the premises were confiscated by KMPDC officials with support from the Kenya Red Cross pending further regulatory action.

Speaking after the operations, NACADA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Anthony Omerikwa said the authority would continue cracking down on rehabilitation centres operating below required standards.

He said treatment and rehabilitation facilities must provide safe and dignified conditions for patients seeking recovery from substance abuse.

The two facilities will remain closed pending fresh inspections and confirmation that they comply with regulatory and safety requirements.

NACADA said nationwide inspections of rehabilitation centres will continue as part of efforts to enforce compliance and protect patients undergoing treatment and recovery.