NACADA has proposed closer cooperation with the Judiciary on drug-related cases and rehabilitation.
NACADA has urged the Judiciary to expand dedicated courts and develop treatment pathways for eligible offenders with substance use disorders.
The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has proposed expanding specialised drug courts. Its request covers Embu, Eldoret and Mombasa, alongside a separate proposal for a High Court handling organised crime.
NACADA Board Chairperson Stephen Mairori presented the proposals during a meeting with Chief Justice Martha Koome. He said the measures would strengthen the response to narcotics trafficking and improve the handling of complex criminal cases.
Proposed specialised drug courts coverage
Mairori commended the Judiciary for establishing dedicated courts for offences involving narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. These courts handle cases involving both possession and trafficking.
However, he urged the Judiciary to extend that coverage through specialised magistrates’ courts in Embu and Eldoret. He also sought the reinstatement of Shanzu Law Courts in Mombasa as a specialised facility serving the Coast region.
In addition, Mairori proposed a High Court with specialised jurisdiction over organised crime. He linked that request to the need for better handling of complex criminal cases.
Training and shared data
Alongside the proposed expansion, Mairori called for training for judicial officers and other court users on alcohol and drug abuse. He also proposed joint research and information sharing on substance abuse and crime data.
These measures, he said, would support evidence-based decisions and improve the administration of justice. The proposals therefore extend beyond court coverage to the knowledge and information available to those handling cases.
Meanwhile, Mairori advocated joint public education and prevention programmes to address substance abuse and reduce drug-related crime. He called for closer cooperation between NACADA and the Judiciary in developing these initiatives.
Treatment and rehabilitation proposals
NACADA also wants the two institutions to develop frameworks for recovery treatment courts. Such courts would explore combining accountability for drug-related offences with treatment and rehabilitation for eligible offenders with substance use disorders.
Koome welcomed the proposals and expressed the Judiciary’s commitment to closer cooperation with NACADA. She also stressed the importance of training, shared data and public education in strengthening the justice system’s response.
On recovery treatment courts, Koome said the Judiciary would explore arrangements that support both accountability and rehabilitation. Those discussions would form part of the institutions’ broader collaboration on substance abuse and organised crime.
The two institutions agreed to strengthen inter-agency cooperation. As a next step, technical teams are expected to meet to develop frameworks for training, information sharing and the proposed courts.
The discussions will guide further work on expanding specialised judicial services and coordinating substance abuse prevention efforts. The additional courts and recovery treatment arrangements remain proposals for further development.
