NACADA shuts down illegal rehab centre in Kiambu

The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has shut down a rehabilitation centre in Githunguri, Kiambu County, following a shocking discovery of deplorable conditions at the facility.

An impromptu raid, conducted by NACADA's Compliance and Enforcement team alongside Public Health officials, exposed how Ahadi Rehabilitation Center was  operating far below acceptable health and safety standards.

The investigators found several clients visibly ill yet receiving no proper medical attention. The living quarters reeked of neglect; torn, soiled mattresses were strewn across poorly ventilated dormitories, while filthy toilets posed serious health risks.

The kitchen, where meals were prepared for vulnerable patients, was in a disgraceful state, with food stored in unsanitary conditions that could easily cause disease outbreaks. Most alarming was the complete absence of qualified medical or counselling staff to care for people struggling with addiction.

"This isn't just substandard, it's criminal exploitation of vulnerable Kenyans," declared NACADA's CEO, Dr. Anthony Omerikwa, during the operation. "We will not tolerate these so-called rehabilitation centres that operate as human warehouses rather than places of healing. Effective immediately, we're launching nationwide inspections to root out every illegal facility preying on desperate families."

The CEO emphasized that while Kenya faces a severe shortage of treatment centres, with only 139 accredited facilities out of 255 inspected by NACADA serving an estimated 3.2 million people with substance use disorders, compromising on standards cannot be an option.

"Recovery must happen with dignity, not in conditions that negate that principle," he stated, warning that unlicensed operators would face the full force of the law.

Following the immediate closure, NACADA coordinated the safe transfer of all clients to approved facilities while notifying families to assist with relocation.

The authority has urged the public to verify rehabilitation centre licenses through official channels and report suspicious operations via their toll-free line 1192.

This crackdown comes amid growing concerns about the proliferation of unregulated treatment centres capitalising on Kenya's addiction crisis.