Kenya destroyed more than one tonne of methamphetamine valued at Sh8.2 billion, in one of the country’s largest drug destruction exercises, as the government intensified its crackdown on narcotics trafficking.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen oversaw the destruction of the drugs on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at Bamburi Cement Factory in Mombasa County.
Murkomen said the seizure and destruction demonstrated the scale of the narcotics threat facing Kenya and the importance of intelligence-led, multi-agency cooperation.
“This drug was meant to destroy lives. It was meant to hook our children, wreck families and fund criminal networks,” Murkomen said.
He said the government would not provide safe space for the manufacture, trafficking, distribution or sale of illicit drugs and alcohol.
The CS said President William Ruto had directed a “decisive reset” in the war against illegal drugs, including stronger enforcement, closure of legal loopholes, recovery of proceeds of crime, expanded rehabilitation and measures to prevent young people from becoming users.
Anti-narcotics unit expanded
Murkomen said the government had transformed the Anti-Narcotics Unit into the National Anti-Narcotics Investigations Bureau, increasing specialised officers from 200 to 405.
The government is also procuring 20 vehicles for the bureau and strengthening its intelligence, surveillance, forensic and financial investigation capabilities.
Between January and August 2026, Murkomen said security agencies arrested 259 suspects and seized or destroyed 2,896,590 litres of illicit alcohol.
Other seizures included 12,385 pieces of counterfeit alcohol, 27,854 litres of ethanol, 13,879.081 kilogrammes of cannabis, 4.241 kilogrammes of heroin, 4.58 kilogrammes of cocaine and about 10 kilogrammes of methamphetamine.
A further 32,193.83 kilogrammes of cannabis is being held by the Anti-Narcotics Unit pending the conclusion of cases.
Authorities also seized 16 motor vehicles, 10 motorcycles and Sh146,755 in cash between May and July 2026.
According to Murkomen, 21 narcotics cases are currently before the courts, with two convictions secured.
He said Magistrates’ Courts had been designated to handle narcotics possession and trafficking cases at JKIA, Kahawa, Mombasa and Busia.
Mombasa among hardest-hit areas
Murkomen said the narcotics problem remained particularly serious at the Coast, with Kenya serving both as a market and transit point for drugs.
Citing NACADA data, he said one in six Kenyans aged between 15 and 65 — more than 4.7 million people — use at least one drug or substance of abuse.
Mombasa County recorded the highest reported rate nationally at 34.4 per cent, he said.
The government is therefore pursuing amendments to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act and the NACADA Act.
Murkomen said the proposed changes would strengthen the legal, institutional, investigative and prosecutorial framework for tackling drug trafficking, organised criminal networks and substance abuse.
Government targets drug profits
The CS said the government would also pursue property and other assets linked to drug trafficking and illicit alcohol businesses.
“All assets used in or acquired through drug trafficking and the illicit alcohol trade will be treated as proceeds of crime, promptly frozen, and forfeited to the State,” he said.
He added that the President had directed that recovered assets be redirected towards prevention, treatment and rehabilitation programmes.
Murkomen also warned government officials against colluding with drug traffickers or illicit alcohol networks, saying those found involved would face dismissal and prosecution.
He said the government’s crackdown on illicit alcohol had so far resulted in 3,331 arrests and the seizure of 678,505 litres of illicit alcohol, of which 353,875 litres had been destroyed.
Rehabilitation drive
The government is also expanding treatment and rehabilitation services alongside enforcement.
Murkomen said an assessment of 266 rehabilitation facilities had been completed, with 164 accredited. Eleven counties had expressed willingness to establish rehabilitation centres.
He said President Ruto had directed the establishment of rehabilitation centres in all 47 counties, in collaboration with county governments and NACADA.
The government is also working to expand treatment coverage for substance-use disorders through the Social Health Authority.
Murkomen said the government’s approach was intended to target traffickers while providing support to people struggling with substance abuse.
“We will hunt down traffickers, but we will not abandon the victims of drugs,” he said.
Crackdown on criminal gangs
The Interior CS also linked the wider security operation to efforts against criminal gangs.
He said 570 suspects had been arrested in Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu and Mombasa counties during enhanced operations against gangs, with Panga Boys accounting for 85 per cent of the arrests.
More than 400 additional suspects were arrested in operations targeting gangs in Trans Nzoia, Kakamega and Busia counties, he said.
Murkomen said the government would continue intercepting drug shipments at borders, ports and along the coastline while pursuing those responsible for trafficking.
“To the people of Kenya: report manufacturers, sellers and distributors of drugs and illicit brews in your neighbourhoods. Help us protect our children,” he said.
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