Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has raised concerns over the growing prevalence of drug and substance abuse in universities, warning that the government will take firm action to curb the trend.
Speaking during the launch of a report on drug use in higher learning institutions, Murkomen linked the rise in substance abuse to a culture that has taken root in some universities. He emphasized that authorities will implement targeted measures to dismantle drug networks operating within institutions.
The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) Director of Research, Standards, and Licensing, John Muteti, revealed that some students are actively involved in drug distribution within campuses.
Murkomen further noted that some students, who initially enroll in four-year programs, end up staying in school for up to seven years, often due to involvement in drug-related activities.
“We need to investigate cases where students remain in universities for longer than expected, sometimes switching courses unnecessarily or delaying their graduation,” he stated.
The CS expressed concerns over students who, despite not running legitimate businesses, appear to be wealthy and influential on campus.
“In the past, we had students in universities who were extremely rich and influential without any known source of income. We intend to deal with such cases because of the kind of business they are involved in,” he warned.
To strengthen efforts against drug abuse, Murkomen directed Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to boost security operations around universities. He called for enhanced collaboration between intelligence officers, university administrations, and law enforcement agencies to curb the sale and distribution of drugs, particularly cannabis, heroin, and cocaine.
“We need intelligence officers to work closely with universities, students, and the police to improve intelligence gathering and come up with effective interventions,” he said.
The NACADA report highlighted that friends are the leading source of drugs among students, contributing 66.4 percent of the supply. The findings also confirmed that some students are not just consumers but active participants in the sale of drugs within institutions.
Murkomen urged for the enforcement of strict regulations to ban the sale of cheap alcohol near universities as part of efforts to control substance abuse.
“We need to start by banning these cheap spirits and unregulated alcohol and ensure designated canteens only sell specific levels of alcohol,” he stated.
The report further raised alarm over the mental health impact of drug abuse, particularly among female university students. It found that 6.4 percent of female students suffer from moderately severe depressive disorders, while 4.1 percent have severe depression—figures that are higher than those recorded among their male counterparts (5.2 percent and 3 percent, respectively).
Inspector General Kanja, who was also present at the event, vowed to support initiatives aimed at safeguarding students from drug-related harm.
“To protect the future of our youth, we will intensify efforts, including involving the Anti-Terror Unit in our operations,” he announced.
The survey, conducted by NACADA, sheds light on the increasing challenges of drug abuse in higher learning institutions and calls for urgent action to address the crisis.
