The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has shut down an illegal rehabilitation center in Meru County following disturbing revelations of patient abuse, neglect, and human rights violations. The action came after NACADA, in collaboration with several government agencies, raided the facility in the early hours of the morning, following multiple complaints from the public.
During the inspection, authorities uncovered appalling conditions within the center. Patients, including minors, were found sleeping on cold floors with only tattered blankets for warmth. Basic necessities such as food and medical care were severely lacking, and there were no qualified medical professionals or counselors present to assist the patients. Many of the individuals in the facility had been held for extended periods, some for over a year, and were subjected to inhumane treatment, including torture and severe overcrowding.
In addition to the abuse, the facility’s unsanitary environment posed a serious public health risk, endangering both the patients and the surrounding community. The conditions at the rehab center were deemed unacceptable, prompting NACADA to order its immediate closure.
As part of the operation, NACADA’s multi-agency team rescued all patients, who were temporarily placed under protective custody at Meru Police Station. The facility’s manager and a staff member were arrested on the spot, while the owner of the facility remains at large and is being actively pursued by authorities. The case has been handed over to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Meru for further investigation and prosecution.
In response to the raid, NACADA CEO Anthony Omerikwa issued a stern warning to rogue rehab facility operators across the country. He emphasized that operating unlicensed institutions under such deplorable conditions is not only illegal but also deeply unethical. Omerikwa vowed to intensify nationwide inspections of rehabilitation centers and ensure that those found in violation face legal consequences.
To further improve the standards of rehabilitation services, Omerikwa also announced the rollout of the Community-Based Rehabilitation Framework. This initiative is aimed at providing professional, accessible, and safe rehabilitation options at the grassroots level, in collaboration with local communities. The goal is to establish a proper continuum of care for individuals battling substance use disorders, ending the suffering caused by unscrupulous operators.
The swift closure of the Meru rehab facility serves as a powerful reminder that NACADA is committed to safeguarding the dignity and rights of individuals in rehabilitation and to holding rogue operators accountable for their actions.
