Western region leads in alcoholism cases as 3,000 people arrested in crackdown against drugs

According to Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, this is part of the government’s sustained efforts to crack the whip, on those selling illicit brew, and advancing abuse of drugs in the country. 

PS Omollo was speaking on Friday during the launch of the latest report by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).

The survey conducted in selected clusters spread across the 47 counties revealed that the Western region is leading in cases of alcoholism in the country, with an alcohol prevalence rate of 23.8%, followed by the Coastal region at 13.9%, and Central at 12.8%.

On consumption of alcohol Western has the highest cases of chang'aa and traditional brew consumption while Central region leads in the use of potable spirits (4.1%) followed by Coast (3.2%) and Rift Valley (3.1%);

Central region had the highest prevalence of current use of tobacco at 11.9% followed by Coast (10.8%) and Eastern (10.7%).

NACADA CEO Victor Okioma attributed the trend to the legalisation and commercialisation of traditional brews.

The stakeholders also raised concern over the drop in the initiation age, with children as young as 6 years smoking tobacco.

The survey established that alcohol continues to be the most widely used substance of abuse in Kenya followed by tobacco, khat and cannabis respectively.

The high prevalence of alcohol consumption was attributed to the increasing demand for cheaper and readily available alcoholic products especially chang’aa, traditional brews, and potable spirits.

To combat the drug abuse menace NACADA is calling for “enhanced collaboration between the national and county governments to scale up joint enforcement efforts to control the production, distribution, sale, and consumption of illicit brews.”

The authority has also recommended that county governments review the licensing regime and incorporate public participation to regulate the increased proliferation of liquor-selling outlets in the counties.