Kenya Calls for Support in Responding to the World Drug Problem

Ms. Winifred Guchu, CAS, Interior (fourth from left), Mr. Victor Okioma, CEO NACADA, (fourth from right), Dr. Hamisi Massa, Head Anti-Narcotic Unit (second from right) and Mr. Arthur Osiya, Secretary (third from left)

March 17, 2022- Kenya has called on the international community to provide both financial and technical support to developing countries in response to the complex world drug problem.

“The world drug problem is complex and dynamic specially to developing countries as it requires heavy investment in building technical and infrastructural capacities that support effective investigations, prosecution and other criminal justice processes”, Ms. Winifred Guchu, Chief Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government. This was during the during the 65th Session of Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna, Austria.

The session was attended by 1,400 participants from 128 countries, 19 inter-governmental organizations and 72 non-governmental organizations both online and in-person. The Kenya delegation included Dr. Hamisi Massa, Head of Anti-Narcotic Unit, Mr. Arthur Osiya, Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Mr. Victor Okioma, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), NACADA, Dr. Yvonne Olando, Director Public Education, Advocacy, Rehabilitation and Regional Coordination, NACADA and Job Kandie, Head of Licit Control, Pharmacy & Poisons Board.

During the same conference, the NACADA CEO urged the World Health Organisation (WHO) to consider evaluating Tramadol and continue discussions on Ketamine whose use and misuse are on the rise.

“The control of Tramadol and Ketamine is critical in addressing public health concerns particularly in developing countries. To further strengthen national control measures, Kenya has so far, included both Tramadol and Ketamine in the list of controlled substances,” he said.

Tramadol is a synthetic opioid that is used to treat acute and chronic pain of moderate to severe intensity. On the other hand, Ketamine is an anesthetic used to induce loss of consciousness and its effects includes reduced sensation of pain.

CND convenes every year and is the foremost drug-policymaking body in the United Nations system. It is responsible for monitoring the world drug situation, developing evidence-based drug control strategies, and recommending measures to address the world drug problem.