NACADA Takes Action After Murkomen Directive On Drug Abuse In Universities
The data has triggered urgent calls for intervention, with Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen directing immediate action to curb the escalating problem.
Marvin Chege 
The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has announced a major initiative targeting the rising drug and substance abuse crisis among university students.
According to a press release sent to Viral Tea, the move follows alarming findings from the latest Status of Drugs and Substance Use Among University Students in Kenya survey, which exposed widespread abuse of alcohol, bhang, and prescription drugs in higher learning institutions.
The data has triggered urgent calls for intervention, with Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen directing immediate action to curb the escalating problem.
A photo of drugs and a glass containing alcohol. /BUSINESS DAILY
As part of its strategy, NACADA will roll out regional stakeholder engagements across the country, bringing together university administrators, students, faculty, government agencies, and experts to craft sustainable solutions.
The forums, to be held in clusters based on the former provincial boundaries, aim to identify root causes, strengthen prevention mechanisms, and develop intervention programs.
According to NACADA, the findings highlight the critical need for a collective response to the crisis. The initiative will focus on reinforcing partnerships between the authority, universities, and key stakeholders to enhance drug prevention, rehabilitation, and awareness efforts.
"Prevention is our most powerful tool. By equipping students with life skills and knowledge, we can empower them to resist peer pressure and make informed choices," NACADA stated.
The campaign aligns with the Authority’s broader mission to create a drug-free society and will also serve as a platform to mobilize resources and share best practices to support universities in implementing effective drug control programs.
NACADA urged all stakeholders, including parents, educators, and policymakers, to actively participate in the initiative, emphasizing that eradicating drug abuse in universities requires a united front.
The report released on Thursday, February 13 showcased the prevalence of alcohol among university students, with alcohol consumption reported by 87.3% of students, followed by cigarette use at 64.4% and shisha at 41.2%.
Besides alcohol, students also reported using other substances, including vaping (31%), nicotine pouches (30.7%), kuber (23%), and snuff or chewed tobacco (22.1%).
“IG, we need to strengthen all the police stations near the universities whether it is Central Police in Nairobi, in Rongai near (Africa) Nazarene University, or the one near Kenyatta University (KU) with deliberate inter-agency efforts within the police to see how we can integrate these investigations,” the CS stated.
