President William Ruto has proposed the introduction of the death penalty for drug traffickers, describing the move as a necessary step to protect Kenyan children from the growing menace of substance abuse.
Speaking during an engagement ceremony in Uasin Gishu County, Ruto argued that fines and existing penalties have failed to deter dealers and traffickers.
“People who are selling heroin and cocaine are destroying our children. Those who are selling or their children don’t use it themselves; they come to sell to other people’s children,” he said.
The President was clear that harsher punishments are needed.
“The past law stated that such people should be fined Sh1 million. We are now changing the law to make it a capital offence. Those found guilty would face the ultimate penalty,” Ruto added, emphasising that the trade in hard drugs is a national threat that cannot be ignored.
In addition to the death penalty proposal, Ruto announced plans to establish a strengthened Anti-Narcotics Unit within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, with operational capacity comparable to the elite Anti-Terrorism Police Unit.
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Ruto’s proposals come amid alarming trends revealed by the 2025 NACADA report, which shows that Kenyans are starting to use drugs and alcohol at increasingly younger ages.
Children as young as six are beginning to use tobacco, followed by alcohol at age seven.
By age eight, some have experimented with cannabis or prescription drugs, and khat use starts around age nine.
While harder drugs such as heroin and cocaine typically appear later, around ages 18 and 20, the report highlights a steady decline in the minimum age of initiation for other substances.
Cannabis use has also surged by 90% over five years, and alcohol remains the most abused substance, with 1 in 20 Kenyans (1.36 million) addicted.
Polydrug use is particularly concerning, with roughly 267,000 young people aged 15–24 using multiple substances simultaneously.
Among adults aged 25–35, 1 in 5 are using drugs or alcohol, while nearly half a million engage in multiple-substance use.