NACADA Shuts Down Rehab After Finding That It Poses Risk To Kenyans' Lives

The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has 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.

According to a statement to newsrooms, 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. 

Photo collage of Ahadi Rehabilitation Centre in Githunguri, Kiambu County, closed by NACADA on May 27, 2025. /NACADA

The kitchen, where meals were prepared for clients, was in an alarming state of disrepair, with food stored in unsafe conditions posing a significant risk of disease outbreak.

Most notably, the centre had no qualified medical or counselling personnel on-site, raising serious concerns about the welfare and treatment of individuals battling addiction.

"This isn't just substandard, it's criminal exploitation of vulnerable Kenyans," declared NACADA's CEO, Dr. Anthony Omerikwa, during the operation.

"We will not tolerate these so-called rehabilitation centres that operate as human warehouses rather than places of healing. Effective immediately, we're launching nationwide inspections to root out every illegal facility preying on desperate families."

Dr. Omerikwa noted that while Kenya is grappling with a severe shortage of rehabilitation services, with only 139 of the 255 facilities inspected by NACADA meeting accreditation standards to serve an estimated 3.2 million individuals with substance use disorders, compromising care standards is not an option.

"Recovery must happen with dignity, not in conditions that negate that principle," he added, warning that unlicensed operators would face the full force of the law.

Following the closure, NACADA facilitated the safe transfer of all patients to accredited facilities and has contacted affected families to support the relocation process.

The authority urged the public to verify rehabilitation centres’ licensing status through official channels and to report suspicious operations via its toll-free line, 1192.

This crackdown comes amid increasing concern over the rise of unregulated rehabilitation centres across the country. Recent data suggests that up to one in four private facilities may be operating illegally.

On January 13, 2025, NACADA announced that it was monitoring the rehabilitation sector, intending to close down facilities operating outside required legal and operational standards.

The authority stated that it noted with concern the increasing number of rehabilitation centres operating without adherence to the requisite legal frameworks and data protection guidelines.