How new law will take drugs war to offenders

Kenya is among top-ranked countries of origin, departure and transit of trafficking of narcotic and psychotropic drugs. This is despite the Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances (Control) Act No. 4 of 1994 which provides the framework for combating abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. The law provides the parameters on control, possession, transportation, trafficking and use of narcotic drugs. The law also outlines the punishment for illicit use, possession and trafficking of illegal substances.

Substance abuse remains a huge menace and is a major challenge with negative impacts on social, economic, governance and criminal justice sector. In 2004, 1,000kg of cocaine was seized in Kenya making it one of the biggest seizures in Africa. According to the World Drug Report 2018, Kenya was one of the main countries that heroine was trafficked along the Southern route to Western and Central Europe during that period.