Nairobi, 30th June 2026
Nairobi County joined the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders in a sensitization meeting on the Drug Demand Reduction Strategy (DSR 2025) for Tobacco and Nicotine Products, held as part of the National Communication and Community Engagement Campaign to tackle the growing challenge of tobacco, nicotine, and substance use among young people.
The meeting brought together health professionals, government officers and development partners to strengthen partnerships for implementing the strategy through public awareness, policy enforcement and community engagement.
Speaking during the session, Nairobi County Head of Division for Communicable Diseases, Dr. Victor Kibe, warned that drug and substance abuse has become an escalating public health concern, particularly among youth, and called for coordinated action by all stakeholders.
Dr. Kibe said, “More adolescents are being exposed to tobacco and nicotine products at an early age, increasing their risk of lifelong addiction and serious health complications. Prevention must begin at home, in schools and within communities, supported by stronger early intervention, enforcement and collective action to protect our young people.”
Director of Planning, State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, Ministry of Health Mr. Dixon Sikuku, noted that drug abuse continues to affect families and communities across the country, directly or indirectly, emphasizing that addressing the problem requires collective responsibility and stronger partnerships among government institutions, communities and families.
The sensitization session, facilitated by Felix Ogeta, a consultant with the Ministry of Health, examined the drivers of drug demand, populations most at risk and practical interventions to reduce tobacco and nicotine use.
Participants identified peer pressure, curiosity, easy access to tobacco and nicotine products, misconceptions surrounding vaping and e-cigarettes, unemployment, and stress as key drivers of increased use among young people.
To address these challenges, they called for stronger parental supervision, greater youth engagement in positive activities, involvement of rehabilitated drug users in awareness campaigns, stricter enforcement of existing laws, and enhanced community support systems.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to intensify prevention initiatives, public awareness campaigns and coordinated policy implementation to curb drug and substance abuse across the country.
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