Government to Build Rehabilitation Centres in Every County — PS Raymond Omollo

Kenya, 19 January 2026 - Kenya’s escalating drug and substance abuse crisis has prompted a renewed policy response, with the National Government announcing plans to establish rehabilitation centres in every county in collaboration with County Governments.

The move comes amid a nationwide crackdown on illegal and substandard rehabilitation facilities and growing concern over the limited capacity of accredited treatment centers.

For decades, drug and substance abuse has remained a persistent challenge, particularly among the youth.

High treatment costs and inadequate public facilities have left many families struggling to access care, creating fertile ground for unscrupulous operators who have set up unauthorized rehabilitation centers and exploited vulnerable households.

These gaps were exposed recently when the National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) ordered the immediate closure of 15 rehabilitation centres found to be operating in violation of required standards.

According to NACADA Chief Executive Officer Anthony Omerikwa, the decision followed a Rapid Results Initiative conducted in November 2025, during which a multi-agency team inspected 236 treatment facilities across 36 counties.

The inspections revealed that only 135 centres met the minimum accreditation standards.

Collectively, these compliant facilities offer approximately 3,800 residential beds, underscoring the severe shortage of safe and regulated rehabilitation services nationwide. NACADA said the closures were aimed at protecting patients and ensuring that only properly licensed and professionally managed institutions remain operational.

In response to these findings, the National Government has unveiled a plan to address the structural deficit in rehabilitation services. Speaking on the initiative, Dr Raymond Omollo, the Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration, admitted that the shortage of rehabilitation centres is the result of years of underinvestment.

“It is true we do not have adequate rehabilitation centers across the country. This issue has been caused by the underinvestment and underdevelopment that we, as a government and a country, have failed to address over the years,” Omollo said, adding that the problem is historical rather than new.

Under the direction of President William Ruto, the government will work with County Governments through the Council of Governors to ensure that each county has at least one rehabilitation centre.

Omollo explained that counties will be required to provide land, while the National Government will finance the construction of the facilities. Once completed, the centers will be managed by County Governments in line with their devolved responsibilities.

A major policy shift accompanying the initiative is the inclusion of drug addiction treatment and care under the Universal Health Care framework through the Social Health Authority.