Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

- The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has closed down Ahadi Rehabilitation Centre in Githunguri, Kiambu County, after a surprise inspection revealed horrific conditions.

The raid, carried out by NACADA’s Compliance and Enforcement Unit in collaboration with Public Health officials, uncovered a facility operating in violation of nearly every health, safety, and ethical standard required for addiction treatment centres in Kenya.

From the moment the team entered the premises, the signs of severe neglect were impossible to ignore. Several clients, many of whom appeared visibly ill, were lying unattended in dirty dormitories.

There were no nurses or doctors in sight, no licensed counsellors, and no evidence of medical supervision of any kind.

Torn, urine-soaked mattresses littered the overcrowded rooms. There was little to no ventilation, creating a stifling environment unfit even for short-term habitation.

The toilets were filthy and broken, posing major sanitation risks, while the kitchen, where food for patients was being prepared, inspectors found decaying food stored in unhygienic conditions.

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

The CEO emphasised that while Kenya faces a severe shortage of treatment centres, with only 139 accredited facilities out of 255 inspected by NACADA serving an estimated 3.2 million people with substance use disorders, compromising on standards cannot be an option.

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

In the aftermath of the closure, NACADA coordinated the safe removal and transfer of all clients to licensed and inspected facilities.

The families of those affected were contacted and assisted in the relocation process to ensure minimal disruption to ongoing treatment.

The authority has urged the public to verify rehabilitation centre licenses through official channels and report suspicious operations via their toll-free line 1192.

This crackdown comes amid growing concerns about the proliferation of unregulated treatment centres capitalising on Kenya's addiction crisis.

With studies suggesting one in four private rehabs operate illegally, NACADA's latest action signals a tougher stance against an industry where oversight has historically been lax.

As the authority prepares for nationwide inspections, the operation serves as a clear warning to non-compliant facilities across the country.

Source: TUKO.co.ke