A Collective Call for Prevention and Protection
Civil society, child rights advocates, public health professionals, and community-based organisations across Kenya – many of them Movendi International members – have expressed overwhelming support for the newly launched National Policy for the Prevention, Management, and Control of Alcohol, Drugs, and Substance Abuse (2025). According to the civil society press statement, this policy is timely and vital in addressing the health crisis caused by the widespread availability, affordability, and normalisation of alcohol. It frames alcohol as a family, community, and national concern rather than just an individual problem.
In fact, opinion data cited in the press statement shows that 90% of Kenyans see alcohol harm as a national problem.
Many have experienced or know someone who has experienced road crashes, domestic violence, unemployment, loss of a family member, or other harms due to alcohol.
This widespread harm underlines the urgency of alcohol policy action.
In a joint press conference and statement, Kenyan civil society said:
“Alcohol is a family, community and national issue, not an individual problem. Its unchecked availability, affordability and normalisation is driving a health crisis destroying Kenya’s productivity and national wellbeing. This policy is timely to help us course-correct. This Policy is about the people, not profits.”
Civil Society press statement
Alarming Rates of Alcohol Use and Unaffordable Treatment
The statement reveals that 1 in 8 Kenyans uses alcohol, and 1 in 20 lives with alcohol use disorder. Millions are trapped in cycles of harm, with devastating impacts on health, families, and productivity.
Treatment costs remain a significant barrier. At Miritini Rehabilitation Centre, the most affordable in the country, three months of treatment costs Ksh 55,000.
In private facilities, costs range from Ksh 120,000 to Ksh 1 million for the same period. Treating all people with alcohol use disorders in Kenya would require at least Ksh 74 billion, excluding aftercare. These costs push many households deeper into poverty.
Health, Safety, and Productivity Losses
- Civil society highlights that alcohol fuels a wide range of preventable diseases. These include digestive disorders (21%), cardiovascular diseases (19%), liver disease, diabetes complications, cancers, mental health disorders, and communicable diseases such as HIV and STIs.
- Alcohol also drives injuries, including traffic crashes, self-harm, and violence. For instance, in Kajiado, 54.4% of men and women have been beaten by someone under the influence of alcohol. In Embu and Machakos, 56% of girls and women have experienced violations by alcohol intoxicated men.
- Children from families with alcohol problems face multiple harms, including physical abuse, sexual violence, emotional trauma, disrupted education, and malnutrition due to household spending on alcohol.
- Workplace productivity suffers due to alcohol as well.
A public sector study, cited in the statement, found higher rates of lateness, absenteeism, workplace injuries, and disciplinary concerns among alcohol users. Lost productivity is compounded by premature mortality, disability, and time lost to alcohol-related incarceration and hangovers.
Alcohol use is costing lives and overwhelming health systems, consuming scarce health resources that would otherwise go to programs like school feeding or capitation.”
Civil Society press statement
Rejecting Industry Distraction
The statement challenges claims that the policy could cost Kenya 1.3 million jobs, instead asking about the 1.36 million people with alcohol use disorders and the 3.66 million people experiencing the consequences of alcohol harm.
It calls attention to the real toll: children dropping out of school, women and girls violated, people with disabilities and elders abused, accident victims permanently harmed, and caregivers burdened with care costs.
We have seen reports warning that if the new alcohol policy is fully implemented, Kenya will lose up to 1.3 million jobs. But we ask, what about the 1.36 million Kenyans already struggling with alcohol use disorders? Or the 3.66 million users living under the shadow of addiction and its consequences? How about the employers struggling to boost productivity?
Civil Society press statement
Policy Measures that Put People First
The policy contains evidence-based measures, including:
- Raising the minimum legal age for purchasing, handling, and using alcohol to 21, which science shows reduces early initiation, risky use, injuries, and deaths.
- Protecting people, especially youth, from alcohol promotions, sponsorships, and advertising, especially in youth-oriented spaces and online.
- Creating and safeguarding alcohol-free environments for children and young people, reinforcing healthy norms and preventing harm.
The policy also bans alcohol sales near schools and religious institutions, stops online sales and home deliveries, and aims to establish rehabilitation facilities in every county.
The Way Forward
In the press event, civil society urged swift action to turn the policy into law, supported by adequate funding for prevention, treatment, enforcement, and public engagement.
Civil society called upon Parliament to prioritise health and human rights while resisting industry lobbying.
The coalition also encouraged Country Governments to enforce licensing and zoning rules and invest in community-based prevention programs. Communities, including youth, parents, religious groups, and people with lived experience, were urged to promote alcohol-free spaces and support those affected.
Among the policy’s supporters are several Movendi International members, including Blue Cross Kenya, Graceful Youth Recovery Centre, Kenya Tobacco Control and Health Promotion Alliance, Slum Child Foundation, and Students Campaign Against Drugs.
This unified stance sends a clear message: Kenya has the opportunity to prioritise health, safety, and wellbeing over commercial interests, setting a precedent for effective alcohol prevention in the region.