“Civil societies back NACADA policy, urge swift action to curb alcohol crisis”
KBC TV News reports:
“A coalition of child rights defenders, public health professionals, and community-based organizations have voiced strong support for the newly launched National Alcohol and Drugs Policy 2025. The coalition says the policy is a timely step to address a growing national crisis, as alcohol [harm] is taking a heavy toll on Kenyan families, communities, and the economy.”
Assessment
When Kenya launched its first ever “National Policy on the Prevention of Alcohol, Drugs, and Substance Use” it ended years of delay caused by alcohol industry interference. But immediately after the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) officially launched the National Alcohol Policy, alcohol industry lobbyists and front groups began polluting the public discourse with misleading statements and reactions misrepresenting the content of the policy and the process of bringing its provisions into effect.
In this context, the swift and compelling actions of a broad civil society coalition matters greatly – to shape the public discourse, inform public perception, and counter-act alcohol industry narratives and claims.
This show of broad support from Kenyan civil society strengthens the momentum behind the new National Alcohol Policy and keeps the focus on the need for swift and full implementation. By framing the policy as essential for protecting families, communities, and the economy, advocates are helping to build public and political backing against alcohol industry resistance. Maintaining this advocacy will be key to ensuring that the policy does not remain on paper but delivers real change for Kenyan communities.