Kisii Governor Simba Arati has accused police officers in the county of colluding with youth involved in drug peddling, claiming that some officers have been collecting returns from the illegal trade.
Speaking during Jamhuri Day celebrations at Mobamba Sports Ground in Kisii County on Friday, Arati called on County Commissioner Mwachaunga Mohamed Chaunga to take firm action against officers abetting the vice.
The governor said he had received reports from young people alleging that officers were working with drug dealers instead of curbing the escalating problem.
"I want to ask you, Mr County Commander, I know that you are a believer, youths told me that they will arrest your officers who collude with the youth to pick bribes from them when selling drugs. However, I told them not to do that," Arati said.
Arati, who is also the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Deputy Party Leader, urged the regional security team to allow residents to apprehend any officer found engaging in the alleged collusion and present them to the authorities.
"I, however, want to ask you to allow them to arrest any officer who will be found colluding with such elements. Let them be tied using ropes, as we do not have handcuffs, then if they are brought to you, just send them home," Arati said amid laughter from the crowd of residents who were closely following the developments.
He insisted that the crackdown should be swift and uncompromising to protect the county’s youth from drug networks aided by rogue officers.
The governor’s remarks come amid rising concerns over drug abuse in Kisii, with local leaders pushing for tougher enforcement and accountability within the police service, with Arati saying that several students have dropped out of school due to the menace.
NACADA Survey
This happens as the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA)'s latest national survey shows that about 17.5 per cent of Kenyans aged between 15 and 65 years are currently using at least one drug or substance of abuse, translating to an estimated 4.7 million people.
Alcohol remains the most widely used substance, with about 3.2 million users, followed by tobacco, khat and cannabis, which continue to record steady consumption among both adults and young people.
The agency’s findings indicate that drug use is increasingly affecting the youth, with 8.9 per cent of those aged 15 to 24 currently using at least one substance. Alcohol and tobacco account for most of the cases, while cannabis and khat are also on the rise.
A separate study conducted among university students revealed that 45.6 per cent have used at least one drug in their lifetime, with alcohol, shisha, vapes and marijuana ranking as the most commonly consumed substances.
The report further shows that one in nine students uses marijuana, while a small but notable number reported using hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin.
NACADA has linked the growing drug problem to easy availability, peer influence and weak enforcement networks, noting that alcohol is accessible to more than 87 per cent of students surveyed.
