NACADA Closes Kiambu Rehab Over Unsafe, Inhumane Conditions

• May 28, 2025

Ahadi Rehabilitation Center in Githunguri, Kiambu County, has been shut down by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) following a surprise inspection that exposed severe health and safety violations. The facility, which was operating illegally, had no qualified medical or counselling staff on site and was found to be in a deeply neglected state.

During the inspection, NACADA’s Compliance and Enforcement team worked with Public Health officials to assess the situation. They discovered that several clients at the facility were visibly unwell and had not received proper medical care. The living conditions were described as dire, with overcrowded dormitories, poor ventilation, and dirty, torn mattresses. The toilets were in an unhygienic state, creating a major public health risk. The kitchen, where food was stored and prepared, was described as filthy and unsafe.

NACADA CEO Dr. Anthony Omerikwa condemned the conditions, calling them a “criminal exploitation of vulnerable Kenyans.” He stressed that although there is a shortage of licensed rehabilitation centres in the country, substandard and dangerous facilities cannot be allowed to continue operating. “We will not tolerate these so-called rehabilitation centres that operate as human warehouses rather than places of healing,” he said.

Dr. Omerikwa noted that only 139 out of the 255 rehabilitation centres inspected by NACADA are officially accredited. He added that an estimated 3.2 million Kenyans suffer from substance use disorders and need care that respects their dignity and supports real recovery.

After closing Ahadi Rehabilitation Center, NACADA arranged for all residents to be safely relocated to licensed facilities. Their families were also contacted to help with the transition. The agency is urging the public to verify the accreditation of any rehab centre before admitting loved ones and to report suspicious operations through its toll-free number 1192.

The closure highlights growing concerns over the rise of unregulated rehabilitation centres in Kenya. Research shows that about one in four private rehab facilities in the country are illegal. NACADA says it will now carry out wider inspections across the country to ensure compliance and protect those in recovery.

“Recovery must happen with dignity,” Dr. Omerikwa said. “And we will ensure that every centre meets that standard.”