By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 4 January 2026 - Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sherif Nassir has publicly aligned himself with President William Ruto’s position on drug trafficking, lending bipartisan weight to a growing national push for tougher penalties against narcotics networks.
Speaking in Nyali on Sunday, Nassir said the drugs menace had reached crisis levels and required “bold and painful decisions” to protect the country’s social fabric.
His remarks came days after President Ruto reignited debate by calling for the death penalty for drug traffickers and major peddlers.
“The President is right to take a firm stand,” Nassir told congregants. “Drug trafficking is not a small crime. It destroys families, fuels crime, and robs our youth of their future. Those who profit from this destruction must face the full force of the law.”
President Ruto, while addressing security officials earlier, had argued that extraordinary threats demand extraordinary responses. “We cannot allow a few individuals to poison an entire generation for profit,” the President said, insisting that traffickers operate as organized criminals whose actions amount to economic and social sabotage. “If we are serious about saving our country, we must be ready to confront drug barons without fear.”
Nassir’s endorsement is notable given his senior position within the opposition ODM party, signaling rare consensus across political lines on the issue of narcotics.
Analysts Omar Hussein say the support reflects the scale of the drug problem at the Coast, where trafficking routes and local consumption have long undermined social stability.
During his church address, Nassir also reignited his campaign to have *muguka* formally classified as a harmful drug. He warned that the stimulant, often defended as a cultural crop, has become “a silent destroyer” of young people in coastal counties.
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“Muguka is cheap, easily accessible, and widely abused,” the governor said. “We see its impact in our homes, in schools, and in rising crime. This is no longer a debate about culture or economics — it is about public health and the survival of our youth.”
The governor urged the national government to act decisively, saying county-level interventions alone were insufficient without firm national policy and enforcement.
Beyond the drug debate, Nassir used the pulpit to strike a conciliatory political tone, cautioning residents against divisive rhetoric at a time of heightened political competition.
“Let us not allow politics to divide us along party, ethnic, or religious lines,” he said. “Mombasa belongs to all of us, and our unity is our greatest strength.”
Political observers note that churches continue to serve as influential platforms where leaders blend moral authority with policy advocacy. Nassir’s remarks, delivered at the symbolic start of the year, appear aimed at setting a governance agenda anchored on security, social protection, and unity.
With President Ruto doubling down on his tough anti-drugs stance and opposition leaders like Nassir offering public support, Kenya may be heading toward a rare moment of bipartisan agreement on one of its most entrenched challenges — even as debate continues over the legal and human rights implications of the proposed penalties.
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