Sossion calls for whole-of-government approach to NACADA policy proposals
By Arnold Ngure, July 31, 2025Former Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary-General Wilson Sossion has suggested that the recent proposals on alcohol and drug abuse measures by the National Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) should take a whole-of-government approach.
Speaking during a live TV interview on Thursday, July 31, 2025, Sossion said that the whole campaign cannot be successfully championed by a single agency without other relevant stakeholders doing their bit.
“This proposal needs a whole government approach; that is where NACADA falls in, including the Ministry of Education, Health, Interior, National Government, and County Governments,” Sossion said.
“It cannot be left to one small organization struggling with legislation in Parliament and conducting what appears to be public participation.
Poor planning in cities
The former teachers’ union boss equally observed that the proposed policy on the 300-metre alcohol-free zone near schools is fraught with hurdles, courtesy of the poor planning in urban centres in the country.
“The genesis of the whole challenge is the social challenge of a heavily populated city that is not thoroughly planned is extreme. People want to drink, and you may not stop them from drinking; the only thing that you want to decide is where they will drink and where they should not,” Sossion stated.
“How are our cities planned before you bring in NACADA? We all have to go back, particularly with the cities,” he said.
Quality infrastructure
He equally noted that privatization of education in the cities was also responsible for the challenge of planning the location of schools and ensuring they have proper infrastructure in a conducive learning environment.
“I have been campaigning seriously against privatization in and of education in cities, particularly those exploiting poor households. We even proposed that County governments take over the transport of children from their homes to schools,” he stated.
“We need to replan the social infrastructure of the city in totality; that is why the impact of affordable housing may be realized in the next 10 or 15 years.”
NACADA recommends prohibiting outdoor alcohol advertising, social media endorsements, and celebrity promotions of alcohol, particularly during children’s programming, school events, and public holidays.
Specifically, it bans ads within 300 meters of learning institutions and all forms of alcohol marketing within schools and educational settings.