Mombasa Records Kenya’s Highest Drug Abuse Rate as Government Vows Tougher Crackdown

Mombasa County has the highest rate of drug and substance abuse in Kenya, with more than a third of its population affected, Internal Security and National Administration PS Raymond Omollo said on Friday as authorities announced new measures to contain the crisis.

Principal Secretary for Internal Security Dr. Raymond Omollo said approximately 4.7 million Kenyans aged between 15 and 65 currently use at least one drug or substance of abuse.

Mombasa County records a prevalence rate of 34.4 per cent. The wider Coast region stands at 29.3 per cent.

“Enforcement alone cannot solve this problem. It must be matched with prevention,” Omollo said.

Officials Gather at Miritini to Mark World Drug Day

Omollo spoke during the commemoration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at the Miritini Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Mombasa. The annual United Nations observance falls on June 26.

He said the government was strengthening intelligence-led operations against trafficking networks, enhancing border surveillance, and expanding community-based prevention programmes.

Studies in Mombasa and Kilifi counties had established widespread abuse of muguka, cannabis, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, particularly among young people.

Meanwhile, Jomvu Member of Parliament Badi Twalib urged the country to keep rehabilitation and prevention at the centre of its anti-drug campaign.

He said addiction is a health condition requiring support, not stigma.

Twalib also encouraged families to support relatives undergoing treatment instead of isolating them.

He commended staff at the Miritini Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre for helping individuals recover and rebuild their lives.

Mombasa County to Target Muguka Outlets Near Schools

Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said the county government would intensify the crackdown on muguka outlets operating near schools.

His announcement followed findings from an anonymous survey involving more than 12,800 secondary school students, which revealed worrying levels of drug and substance abuse among learners.

He said Mombasa County would continue investing in prevention programmes, rehabilitation services, and public awareness campaigns.

The county would also work closely with the national government and other partners to safeguard young people.

In addition, NACADA Board Chairperson Bishop Dr. Stephen Mairori said the authority was relying increasingly on scientific approaches such as wastewater analysis.

He said the method helps NACADA monitor patterns of drug consumption and guide evidence-based interventions.

Mombasa Drug Abuse 2026: A Crisis Demanding Coordinated Action

The event brought together national and county government officials, security agencies, health professionals, and community leaders.

It was held under the theme “The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses.”

However, officials and health experts agreed that no single agency can tackle the crisis alone.

Parents, teachers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, and communities all have a role, Omollo said.

As a result, authorities called on all sectors of society to protect young people from drug abuse before they are lured into dependency.