Over 1,500 youths in Kwale undergo methadone therapy
By Shaban Omar, July 14, 2025Kwale County has intensified efforts to combat drug and substance abuse, with more than 1,500 youth undergoing methadone treatment as part of a wider initiative to rescue and rehabilitate addicts across the region.
Speaking during a public awareness forum held at Kombani grounds in Matuga sub-county, Governor Fatuma Achani reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to safeguarding the health and future of the youth by spearheading robust anti-drug campaigns.
Achani said the county government, in collaboration with national agencies and development partners, is working tirelessly to scale up rehabilitation programmes and provide psychosocial support for drug addicts, most of whom are in their teens and early twenties.
“Our young people are the backbone of this county. We cannot afford to lose them to drug addiction. My administration is at the frontline in the campaign against illicit drugs and other banned substances,” she said.
She noted that while drug use has devastating physical and social effects, the mental health burden it places on users and their families is often overlooked.
Achani said it is important for youth to understand that the use of substances like heroin, cocaine and cannabis leads not only to dependency but also to mental health complications such as depression, psychosis, and suicidal behaviour.
The methadone programme, which is run in partnership with the Ministry of Health and other actors in the fight against drugs, offers free treatment and counselling to victims at the Kombani Methadone Centre within Matuga sub-county.
The facility was started by the devolved unit in 2017, and the number of those seeking treatment has been steadily increasing.
Apprehending traffickers
Achani added that the programme also links the rehabilitated youth to opportunities such as vocational training, start-up support, and reintegration into society, as well as empowering them to form companies and compete for government tenders.
The governor further called for the active participation of all stakeholders to realise a drug-free Kwale.
She said the county government, in partnership with local security agencies, has intensified the crackdown on drug kingpins believed to be behind the supply of banned substances to the youth.
According to Achani, the ongoing operation to identify and apprehend drug traffickers has played a critical role in protecting vulnerable young people, many of whom were previously trapped in the grip of addiction.
She urged parents, teachers, religious leaders, and local administrators to take an active role in identifying cases of substance abuse in their communities and referring them to the appropriate centres for help.
Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde, who also attended the event, warned drug peddlers that their days are numbered, saying the government has stepped up surveillance in hot spots along the coastline.
He said ongoing crackdowns in places like Diani, Kombani, Ukunda and along the Kenya-Tanzania borders in Lunga-Lunga sub-county have already led to several arrests and seizures of drugs such as bhang.
“We are not only focused on treatment but also on breaking the supply chain of these harmful substances. Let this be a warning to anyone involved in the trade: we are coming for you,” said Orinde.
Orinde further stated that more sting operations targeting drug peddlers, suppliers, and major dealers are in the pipeline as part of a sustained effort to eradicate the vice from the region.
He urged the youth to steer clear of drugs and instead take advantage of available empowerment programs that can help them build productive and meaningful lives.