There was drama in Nairobi’s Dagoretti area when irate youth believed to have been under the influence of weed attacked officials from National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) during a crackdown.
In a statement on May 20, 2025, NACADA reported that as officers moved into the chang’aa den, chaos erupted. The suspects, caught off guard, fled into nearby shanties and open fields, hastily abandoning a three-quarter sack of suspected cannabis.
“The officers recovered the stash, but the confrontation took a dangerous turn when angry youth regrouped and pelted stones at the enforcement team and their vehicle. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the team made a strategic withdrawal to prevent further escalation,” part of the statement read.
The authority has been working to combat the widespread drug abuse and illicit alcohol trade in Nairobi.
Raid on Chang’aa Den
NACADA enforcement team led by Nicholas Kosgei, supported by 15 officers, conducted a targeted operation against illegal alcohol dens and drug trafficking spots in Mutuini, Ndonyo Market (Dagoretti Sub-County).
The team initially raided four suspected chang’aa dens based on intelligence received. However, the authority stated that the operators had either been tipped off or had already cleared out, leading to no arrests or confiscations.
Further, the officers moved to a well-known drug hotspot near a railway line, where a large group of young men were openly consuming narcotics.
NACADA Crackdown on Illicit Alcohol
The crackdown was led by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nicholas Kosgei. NACADA officials carried out an operation in Mutuini, Ndonyo Market (Dagoretti Sub-County) on May 20, 2025.
The 4:00 PM raid targeted known drug trafficking points and chang’aa dens as part of efforts to tackle drug and illicit alcohol activities in the area.
“We will not allow drug traffickers and illicit brewers to destroy our youth. This operation sends a strong message. We are watching, and we will strike without warning,” Kosgei said.
Also Read: Ex-NACADA Boss: Why Companies Are Selling Fake Vodka to Kenyans
NACADA Report on Drugs Abuse
The study examined drug and substance use (DSU) among university students in Kenya, covering 17 universities across eight regions, including both public and private institutions.
Moreover, a total of 15,678 students participated, achieving a 99.7% response rate. Results showed that 68.5% of respondents were from public universities and 31.5% from private ones.
The student population was 54.2% male, 45.2% female, with 0.6% unspecified. Students were evenly spread across different years of study, with roughly a quarter in each year from first to fourth and above.
Also Read: NACADA Issues Warning After Video of Students Captured Hanging Out of Moving PSV
Concerns Raised in the Report
The latest report revealed a troubling increase in drug and substance abuse among young people in Kenyan universities.
Drug and Substance use in Kenyan Universities report showed that 45.6% of students have used at least one drug or substance at some point in their lives.
Even more alarming, 26.6% of students in both public and private universities are currently using substances such as alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and khat, alongside emerging drugs like methamphetamine and codeine syrup, which are becoming more prevalent on campuses.
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