President William Ruto has reappointed Reverend Dr Stephen Mairori, EBS, as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) for a three-year term, effective January 20, 2026.
Mairori, a religious and public leader, also served as the Senior Pastor of African Inland Church (AIC) Milimani in Nairobi and as the Bishop of the Diaspora Area Church Council within the AIC.
In his previous term, Mairori led the authority through a period of policy and operational changes focused on prevention, community engagement, and regulatory enforcement.
The authority implemented a Community-Based Rehabilitation framework that diverted non-violent drug offenders from the criminal justice system into treatment and health services.
County governments established Alcohol and Drug Control Committees to coordinate public education and community-level interventions during his term.
The drug agency strengthened partnerships with religious leaders through initiatives that involved counselling and public education on drug abuse prevention.
Alcohol control measures were also introduced during Mairori's tenure, including bans on online alcohol sales, tighter licensing rules for supermarkets and residential areas, and proposals to raise the minimum legal drinking age from 18 to 21. Alcohol-free buffer zones were established around schools, churches, and hospitals.
The authority also conducted national awareness campaigns, including the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse (IDADA) in Embu.
Research initiatives were commissioned in collaboration with institutions such as USIU-Africa to track substance use patterns and inform policy.
NACADA also received recognition for financial accountability, including a certificate at the 2024 Financial Reporting (FiRe) Awards.
In January this year, President William Ruto also appointed new leadership for several major state agencies to strengthen governance and service delivery. For the Public Service Commission (PSC), a seven-member Selection Panel was named to recruit a new Vice-Chairperson and commission members, including Arthur Osiya, Oscar Eredi, Professor Nura Mohammed, and Grace Wairimu Kamau.
At the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), James Ndung'u Mureu was appointed as Chairperson for a three-year term. Silas Otieno Jonyo was appointed to chair the council of the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) until 2029, while Joseph Kipchumba was named the head of the National Mining Corporation, with his tenure extending to 2027.
Bishop Joseph Kagunda was appointed as Chairperson of the Anti-Doping Agency board for a three-year term.
