President Ruto. Photo/Courtesy
The government has signalled a renewed and uncompromising crackdown on drug trafficking and illicit alcohol, with Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announcing strict enforcement measures as Kenya enters 2026.
Murkomen spoke after joining President William Ruto for the New Year address at Eldoret State Lodge, where national security and social stability featured prominently.
Murkomen said the fight against drugs and illegal alcohol will be central to protecting Kenya’s socioeconomic gains, describing substance abuse as a serious national threat.
He warned that unchecked drug networks risk undermining families, public safety, and the country’s broader development agenda.
According to the CS, the Ministry of Interior will fully implement directives issued by the President, including strengthening the Anti-Narcotics Unit and equipping it with adequate resources to dismantle trafficking networks.
The Border Police Unit will also receive enhanced capacity to curb cross-border movement of drugs and illegal brews.
A key pillar of the crackdown will involve targeting the financial lifelines of criminal syndicates. Murkomen said the state will freeze and seize assets used in drug-related crimes or acquired through proceeds of the illegal trade.
He added that this approach is intended to weaken organized networks that have previously survived enforcement operations.
The Interior CS further issued a strong warning to public officials, stating that any government employee found facilitating, protecting, or colluding with drug traffickers or illicit alcohol dealers will face immediate prosecution and dismissal from service.
He said internal accountability within government institutions is critical to winning the fight.
Murkomen reflected on 2025 as a year in which Kenya completed key groundwork for economic and social recovery, noting that security remains essential to sustaining progress.
He praised President Ruto for what he termed timely and decisive leadership, saying the reforms demonstrate a firm commitment to citizen welfare.
Kenya has long struggled with drug abuse and illicit alcohol, challenges that have affected urban centres, border regions, and informal settlements.
The government now says its 2026 strategy will combine law enforcement, asset recovery, and institutional discipline to confront the problem more decisively.