NACADA Shuts 15 Rehab Centres After Nationwide Inspection Exposes Health Risks and Unsafe Conditions

By benadeta mwaura - Reporter

Kenya, January 15, 2026 - The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has ordered the closure of 15 rehabilitation facilities found to be operating in unsafe, unlawful and noncompliant conditions, following a nationwide inspection of addiction treatment centres.

The closures are part of a rapid results initiative carried out in November 2025, in which a multiagency team inspected 236 treatment and rehabilitation facilities across 36 counties, the most comprehensive assessment of Kenya’s addiction care capacity to date.

Only 135 facilities were found to meet minimum standards and received full accreditation; 30 were denied accreditation, and 56 were placed under close monitoring for compliance gaps. According to NACADA chief executive officer Dr. Anthony Omerikwa, the facilities ordered to shut down posed direct risks to clients due to a range of violations, including:

1. Expired medicines and unsafe drug storage that could endanger patient health.

2. Poor hygiene and sanitation, increasing the risk of infection and disease.

3. Unsafe or dilapidated structures that failed basic safety protocols.

4. A lack of qualified medical and counselling personnel, leaving vulnerable patients without professional care.

“These closures are not arbitrary, they are about protecting lives,” Dr. Omerikwa said in a statement. “Rehabilitation centres must be places of safety and recovery, not sites where vulnerable individuals are exposed to further harm.” The closures come amid an ongoing crackdown on noncompliant and illegal rehabilitation centres, with similar operations by NACADA and other agencies in recent years.

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For example, in 2025, NACADA shut down individual facilities in Kiambu and Kajiado counties for deplorable conditions and failure to meet basic standards, prompting wider inspections and enforcement. In Kiambu, inspectors found residents living in overcrowded, poorly ventilated rooms with unsanitary kitchens and no qualified staff; all clients were transferred to approved facilities after the abrupt closure.

NACADA’s review also highlighted deep structural challenges in Kenya’s addiction treatment sector. Most accredited centres are privately owned, making quality inpatient care unaffordable for many families, while there is a critical shortage of public outpatient and community based services.

Specialized rehabilitation services for groups such as women and adolescents are also limited, pointing to gaps in service coverage. NACADA estimates that 1.3 million Kenyans need treatment and rehabilitation for alcohol and drug use disorders, underscoring the enormous demand for safe, accredited services.

The authority has urged county governments to prioritise accessible, affordable treatment facilities, as envisioned in a recent Presidential directive to establish a rehabilitation centre in every county. Development partners and community stakeholders have also been called upon to invest in communitybased and specialised services, including outpatient support and recovery programmes.

NACADA continues to encourage the public to verify accreditation status before admitting loved ones into any rehabilitation centre and to report suspicious operations via its tollfree line (1192).Regular inspections and enforcement actions form part of the wider effort to improve treatment quality and uphold the rights and dignity of those struggling with substance use disorders.