Religious leaders have called on the government to forge stronger partnerships with faith-based organisations in the country’s intensifying battle against alcohol and substance abuse.
The Kenya Coalition of Church Alliances and Ministries (KCCAM), while welcoming the proposed overhaul of laws governing the sale and consumption of alcohol, said they will, however, not remain silent if the reforms are weaponised for harassment, extortion, or corruption.
“The immense burden placed on parents, schools, the local economy, and the healthcare system by this epidemic is undeniable,” said Bishop Geoffrey Njuguna of Deliverance Churches. “The government's action is, therefore, a bold, necessary, and long-overdue step.”
The government has recently proposed a policy shift to raise the legal age for alcohol consumption from 18 to 21 years, and other far-reaching measures under the newly adopted National Policy for the Prevention, Management & Control of Alcohol, Drugs & Substance Abuse.
Traders have resisted the new alcohol control rules.
Photo credit: Shutterstock
The state also banned alcohol sales in vending machines, public beaches, recreational facilities, supermarkets, toy shops, online platforms, and public transport systems, even as alcohol consumption is now prohibited in restaurants, clubs, and educational institutions.
This policy shift, which is seen as one of the most aggressive regulatory reforms in the fight against addiction, mirrors the government’s concern over substance use trends among the youth.
This move is supported by staggering figures from a national survey conducted by the National Agency for the Campaign Against Drugs and Alcohol Abuse (Nacada), in collaboration with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, which revealed that children in Kenya are initiating alcohol consumption as early as seven years of age, with tobacco use beginning at six. Cannabis and prescription drug use have been documented from the age of eight, and khat from the age of nine.
Alarmingly, 1.36 million Kenyans are now addicted to alcohol, and one in every six citizens between the ages of 15 and 65 uses at least one addictive substance. The study also pointed to a sharp 90 percent increase in cannabis use over the last five-year period, with widespread polydrug use becoming more common across age groups.
Other newly introduced measures include the government’s enforcement of a minimum 300-metre distance between alcohol outlets and any nursery, primary, secondary, or tertiary learning institution. Additionally, alcohol may not be sold or consumed during events attended by children, or by adults accompanied by children. These restrictions are designed to reduce young people’s exposure to alcohol marketing and accessibility.
Many households, according to KCCAM, are grappling with brokenness, economic hardship, and mental health challenges that are either fuelled or exacerbated by substance abuse.
Kenya Coalition of Churches Alliances and Ministries Chairman Bishop Dr Stephen Mutua (centre) gestures while addressing the media at Deliverance Church Lang'ata on June 16, 2023. He is joined by Bishop Hudson Ndeba of the Clergy Association of Kenya (left) and Bishop Jesse Ireri from KCCAM and other officials.
Photo credit: Francis Nderitu | Nation Media Group
As a faith-based umbrella body, KCCAM said it continually engages with communities across the country and has witnessed first-hand the devastating impact of alcohol and drug abuse on families, youth, and the moral fabric of our society.
However, KCCAM warned that “recent history has shown that well-meaning regulations are often easily turned into avenues for rent-seeking by rogue officials”, urging States to ensure that the “licensing and enforcement frameworks under the new regulations are transparent, accountable, and insulated from the usual bribery and harassment, especially at the local level.”
Furthermore, the clergy called on the government to accompany the proposed measures with sustained public education, increased investment in youth engagement, and robust rehabilitation programmes for those who are already dependent on these substances.
“This will ensure that we do not merely drive the sale and consumption of alcohol underground, thus leading to the rise of illicit brews and even more unsafe alternatives,” explained bishop Kepha Omae, the chairperson of the KCCAM.
“This policy should not merely be about changing rules on paper. It must truly be about restoring dignity, purpose, and moral clarity to a generation that is truly under siege. We urge the Ministry of Interior, NACADA, and all relevant agencies to implement this policy with integrity, wisdom, and compassion,” added bishop Omae.
Separately, the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK), while pledging its full support of the newly released policy, said the “policy’s emphasis on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and community empowerment aligns with our mission to foster healthy, God-honouring communities.”
“We particularly commend the policy’s protection of vulnerable groups—especially children and youth—from the deceptive influences of harmful substances and their aggressive marketing. It's grounding in evidence-based interventions, human dignity, and constitutional rights reflects a firm foundation for national healing and transformation,” partly read a statement by the EAK chairperson, Bishop Philip Kitoto.
