NACADA Appoints Acting CEO With 5 Academic Honours

Mairori expressed confidence in Muteti who is set to bring to the table a wealth of over 30 years of experience from the academia, private and public sectors.

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May 16, 2023 - 16:35
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NACADA Appoints Acting CEO With 5 Academic Honours
Photo of John Muteti, NACADA's acting Chief Executive Officer. /NACADA

The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) on Tuesday, May 16 announced the appointment of Prof. John Muteti as the Authority’s Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

While announcing the appointment, NACADA Board Chairperson, Rev. Dr Stephen Mairori, said that Prof. Muteti will be instrumental in steering the Authority’s mandate.

Mairori expressed confidence in Muteti who is set to bring to the table a wealth of over 30 years of experience from the academia, private and public sectors.

Photo of John Muteti, NACADA's acting Chief Executive Officer. /NACADA

"In his appreciation statement, Prof. Muteti pledged to utilize this opportunity to spearhead programs in line with the Authority’s strategic plan and guided by the Board’s policy direction," NACADA stated in a press release sent to newsrooms.

Prof. Muteti holds a Doctorate degree in Strategic Management from Nelson Mandela University, South Africa.

He also has a Master's degree in Economics and Social Studies from the University of Manchester, UK, a Post Graduate Diploma in Social Studies from Victorian University, Manchester, a Post Graduate Certificate in Project Management from Bradford University, UK and a degree in Economics from the University of Nairobi.

He is currently the Director, Research Policy & Planning at NACADA. His appointment took effect on Monday, May 15 and will serve in place of Victor Okioma who is retiring after serving his five-year term as the position is set to be filled competitively.

The appointment comes after NACADA released its report on Friday, May 12 which flagged three drugs and substances abused the most by young Kenyans living in Nairobi.

NACADA released its national survey on the Status of Drugs and Substance Use (DSU) in 2022 which covered the last five years, from 2017 to 2022, with the authority relying on various evaluation tools to assess the effectiveness of drug and substance use reduction programmes implemented in the previous five years.

According to NACADA, three drugs that include alcohol, tobacco and cannabis were prevalent among Kenyans aged 15-24 years, despite cannabis itself being a controlled and illegal substance in Kenya. The exception was khat which was prevalent amongst Kenyans aged 15-24 in the Eastern region.

President William Ruto's government enforced measures to curb the growing alcohol and substance abuse in Central Kenya's Counties of Kiambu, Murang'a, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, and Nyandarua. 

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who is spearheading the campaign against the growing alcohol and substance abuse across the country, especially in the Central Kenya region, hailed the efforts in combating the vice by revealing how the cost of Bhang rose sharply.

Sample of alcohol bottles in a liquor shop. /FILE