By Samuel Ouma
President William Ruto has signaled a major policy shift in Kenya’s fight against drugs, illegal alcohol and gambling, warning that those behind the vices will soon face the toughest laws the country has ever seen.
Speaking on Saturday, January 3, 2025, the Head of State said the nation has reached a breaking point, with addiction silently destroying young lives and leaving parents devastated. He said his government is no longer willing to tolerate criminal networks that profit from misery.
Ruto revealed that new legal proposals will empower the State to confiscate property used to facilitate crime, including vehicles and other assets linked to the illegal alcohol trade. He said anyone found transporting or distributing illicit brews risks losing everything connected to the operation.
“We are changing the law. Anyone selling illegal alcohol will lose the assets they use. If a vehicle is used to transport illicit liquor, once you are caught, that vehicle becomes government property,” he said.
The Kenyan President went further, announcing plans to drastically escalate penalties against dealers of hard drugs, particularly those who target young people. He said Kenya has buried too many dreams because of narcotics and warned traffickers that the coming laws will be unforgiving.
“Those who sell drugs like heroin and cocaine, especially people who do not even use them but sell them to other people’s children, we are changing the law. Such offenders will face the death penalty. Anyone involved in selling heroin and cocaine should brace themselves,” Ruto declared.
He also put Parliament on notice, saying lawmakers must rise to the occasion and support the proposed legislation without hesitation. According to the President, the damage caused by drugs is too deep for half measures or political games.
“Our Members of Parliament must be ready. We are bringing these laws. Too many children have been lost. We cannot continue like this,” he said.
In addition to drugs and illicit alcohol, Ruto said the government is preparing strict regulations to rein in gambling, which he said has quietly drained households financially and emotionally. He warned that betting businesses will no longer be allowed to operate freely without firm oversight.
“We are also working on gambling laws. There will be regulation. It cannot be allowed to spread everywhere. As a country, we cannot continue this way,” he said.
Ruto said restoring discipline and social order is critical to securing Kenya’s future, noting that many families are suffering in silence as addiction takes hold of their children.
“We must build a country of order. Many parents and families are going through unimaginable pain because of drug abuse,” Ruto said.
The proposed legal changes are expected to spark national debate, especially on the severity of penalties, as the government intensifies its campaign against addiction-related crimes.
