New Rehabilitation Facilities Offer Hope to Drug Addicts

Kenya is significantly expanding its network of accredited rehabilitation centres as the government and county authorities push back against substance abuse. The National Government recently committed to building treatment and rehabilitation centres in all 47 counties, targeting areas with high prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse. One flagship project is the Miritini Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre, set to cost KSh 1.3 billion and accommodate more patients, with dormitories, training facilities, and staff housing planned.
In Meru County, officials are constructing a Sh 56 million recovery centre named Runyenje Rehabilitation Centre for Mental Wellness and Recovery. The facility will be licensed to host around 33 patients at a time and will offer mental health services, counseling, and support for survivors of gender-based violence — showing that the government is linking drug addiction recovery with broader wellness.
Meanwhile, the Social Health Authority (SHA) has updated its list of approved rehab centres, making it possible for people insured under Kenya’s national insurance scheme to seek substance-abuse treatment with financial support. Some of the newly approved facilities include Palm Tree House in Kericho, Nobility House in Kiambu, and Brightside Rehab in Nairobi — a move advocates say will lower financial barriers to rehabilitation
In addition, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has launched a Community-Based Rehabilitation Framework, which emphasizes post-treatment reintegration (including vocational training) and follow-up support.This means that treatment is increasingly being viewed not just as detox or recovery, but as a longer-term process that helps individuals rebuild their lives.