Another Rehab Closed Over Poor Conditions After NACADA Raid
The closure came after an unannounced inspection by a multi-agency task force comprising officers from NACADA’s Compliance and Enforcement Unit and public health officials.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) on Wednesday, May 28, ordered the immediate closure of Better Me Options Rehabilitation Centre in Birikani, Kajiado East, following the discovery of serious violations of regulatory and operational standards.
The authority, in a press statement sent to Viral Tea, termed this move as pivotal in safeguarding the welfare of persons undergoing addiction rehabilitation
The closure came after an unannounced inspection by a multi-agency task force comprising officers from NACADA’s Compliance and Enforcement Unit and public health officials.
The team uncovered alarming conditions at the facility, which had previously been flagged for non-compliance during an earlier assessment but failed to implement the recommended corrective measures.
National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse CEO Anthony Omerikwa during the NACADA strategic plan launch 2023-2027 on June 19, 2024. /PHOTO
Key violations identified included the absence of qualified healthcare professionals, inadequate disposal systems for medical waste, and a lack of clean running water in patient washrooms.
Inspectors described the facility's isolation rooms as “unfit for human habitation,” citing deteriorating infrastructure such as peeling paint, broken window panes, and poor overall maintenance.
Additionally, there were troubling reports that some clients were being detained at the facility well beyond clinically appropriate timelines, without proper medical reassessment or the knowledge of their families—a direct breach of patient rights and ethical standards.
"Today's action sends a clear message that we will not tolerate facilities that compromise the recovery journey of vulnerable Kenyans," said NACADA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Anthony Omerikwa, who authorised the operation.
"Our compliance enforcement isn't about punishment, but about protecting lives and ensuring every rehabilitation centre meets the standards that clients desperately need and deserve."
The centre has been served with a formal “Notice Not to Use” order, which bars further operations until comprehensive remedial action is taken and the facility is deemed compliant. Current clients are being safely relocated to accredited centres in collaboration with their families.
This enforcement effort is part of NACADA’s broader nationwide quality assurance initiative aimed at improving standards across rehabilitation facilities. Dr. Omerikwa called on the public to remain vigilant and verify the accreditation status of any rehabilitation centre before admitting loved ones.
"As we intensify these operations countrywide, we're putting all non-compliant facilities on notice," the CEO warned. "The era of substandard rehabilitation services in Kenya is over."
This comes hours after the authority closed Ahadi Rehabilitation Centre in Githunguri, Kiambu County, following an impromptu inspection that uncovered appalling conditions and gross violations of health and safety standards.
The operation, led by NACADA’s Compliance and Enforcement Division in collaboration with Public Health officials, exposed the facility as operating well below acceptable norms.
Investigators reported finding patients in visibly poor health with no access to medical care. Living quarters were described as unsanitary and overcrowded, with soiled and torn mattresses, poorly ventilated dormitories, and unhygienic bathroom facilities.
"NACADA has called on the public to report questionable practices at rehabilitation centres through its toll-free line 1192 as the crackdown continues across all counties," reads the statement in part.
