Nacada says heroin being smuggled to the villages

Kenya has appealed for support to deal with the drug problem. [iStockphoto]

Security agencies have been put on high alert after it emerged that heroin is now available in villages.

The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) revealed that the drug is now being smuggled from the traditional hots spots of Nairobi and Mombasa to rural areas.

Nacada chief executive Victor Okioma said heroin has now found its way to villages in Uasin Gishu, Kakamega, Kisumu, Isiolo, Nakuru and Kiambu counties.

Mr Okioma was speaking during the ongoing 30th meeting of the Heads of State of National Law Enforcement Agencies in Africa at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.

The week-long meeting has been organised by Nacada in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

It brings together more than 100 heads of drug law enforcement agencies from across the continent.

Kenya appealed to the international community to provide both financial and technical support to developing countries to deal with the global drug problem.

Many Kenyans have become addicts, the Nacada boss said, adding that majority of them have developed mental disorders.

"Despite the fact that we have put emphasis on prevention programmes, many Kenyans are progressing to addiction which has overstretched the five public treatment and rehabilitation facilities," said Okioma.

"What's alarming is that majority of the drug addicts are very young people."

He added that Kenya has also witnessed an increase in the abuse of prescription drugs by school children.