New Rehabilitation Centers Give Hope to Addicts

The Kenyan government is rolling out a major expansion of drug and alcohol rehabilitation services, aiming to open publicly funded treatment centres in all 47 counties. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said the new network will provide affordable, comprehensive care — including treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration — to tackle the growing problem of substance abuse.
A flagship project is the Miritini Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Mombasa, currently under construction with a projected price tag of KSh 1.3 billion. Once fully built, the centre will significantly scale up its capacity, growing from 50 inpatients to several hundred, and include facilities such as dormitories, a training wing, and staff housing.
In Meru County, the national government has handed over a KSh 56 million rehabilitation centre to county officials. This facility — named the Runyenje Rehabilitation Centre for Mental Wellness and Recovery — will accommodate up to 33 patients at a time and offer treatment for both substance addiction and gender-based violence survivors. County leaders say the centre will provide a critical lifeline for young people battling addiction, with plans to staff it with psychiatrists and clinical officers.
Furthermore, under the Social Health Authority (SHA) reform, a new list of approved rehab centres has been released, enabling insured Kenyans to access substance-use disorder treatment without prohibitive out-of-pocket costs. This list includes several accredited facilities in Nairobi, Kiambu, and Kericho, helping close the gap between demand for care and financial access.