We must end drug trade, Uhuru Kenyatta says

By Standard Team

Nairobi, Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta has issued a fresh order to police to immediately arrest and deport foreigners suspected of engaging in drug trafficking, saying time for action is now.

Speaking yesterday during a conference organised by the National Authority for Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), Uhuru said the time for talk without action has ended and decisive action is needed to fight the vice before situation gets out of hand.

The President expressed frustration the fight against drug and alcohol abuse has been too much of talk and short on action saying he will no longer tolerate that. He warned County Commissioners that they will lose their jobs if they don’t fight drug and alcohol abuse in their jurisdiction.

“I have already given an order that all foreigners suspected of engaging in drug trafficking to be deported. Those are actions we are going to take,” the President said.

“I particularly call on the police to tighten law enforcement measure to deal with drug trafficking across our borders and enforce the law on access of alcohol and stamp out illicit brews in our towns and villages.”

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By last week, at least 20 individuals from Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Ghana and Congo had been deported for allegedly engaging in ‘dirty businesses’, including drug trafficking and child molestation.

The President added that he was encouraged by moves by Nairobi Governor Dr Evans Kidero to shut down dens of illicit brews within the city, saying that amounted to real action rather than empty talk.

It once worked

“Within three months, I want to sit down with each you to know what you have done about alcohol and drug abuse in your respective counties,” he told County Commissioners.

“Your jobs will also depend on the basis of how you perform. This is the only way we will make a difference.”

Earlier, NACADA Board Chairperson Dr Frank Njenga had requested the President to declare alcohol and drug abuse national disasters to reduce its widespread impact.

He said the declaration of HIV/Aids as a national disaster in 1999 brought down deaths and rates of new infections dramatically.