The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has shut down a rehabilitation centre in Kiambu County after an impromptu inspection exposed appalling conditions and gross neglect.

NACADA’s Compliance and Enforcement team, working in tandem with Public Health officials, raided the facility and uncovered severe violations of health and safety standards.

Inspectors found patients living in distressing conditions. Many were visibly unwell, yet no qualified medical personnel were available to offer care. The inspection team described the dormitories as overcrowded and poorly ventilated, with torn, soiled mattresses scattered on the floor. Toilets were filthy and posed serious sanitation hazards.

The kitchen, where meals for recovering patients were prepared, was equally disturbing. Inspectors noted that food was being stored in unhygienic conditions that could easily trigger disease outbreaks.

Equally troubling was the facility’s complete lack of trained medical or counselling staff. According to NACADA, the centre operated without any professionals equipped to help people grappling with addiction.

“This goes beyond negligence it’s criminal exploitation of vulnerable Kenyans,” said NACADA CEO Dr. Anthony Omerikwa. “We won’t allow rehabilitation centres to operate as human warehouses instead of places of healing.”

Dr. Omerikwa announced the immediate launch of a nationwide crackdown on illegal rehabilitation centres, promising to weed out facilities taking advantage of desperate families.

While acknowledging the country’s shortage of treatment centres, the CEO insisted that Kenya must not lower its standards for addiction recovery. Out of 255 rehabilitation centres inspected by NACADA, only 139 have received accreditation. These serve an estimated 3.2 million Kenyans battling substance use disorders.

“Recovery should happen with dignity,” he emphasized. “We will not tolerate conditions that undermine this principle. Unlicensed operators will face legal action.”

Following the closure, NACADA transferred all affected clients to licensed treatment centres and informed their families to assist with the relocation process. The authority is urging the public to confirm the legitimacy of rehab centres before admission and to report suspicious facilities by calling their toll-free line 1192.

This closure highlights a growing concern: the rapid rise of unregulated treatment centres that exploit Kenya’s addiction crisis instead of providing care.