Former Nacada CEO speaks up on what ails it

The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) should be restructured or a new outfit formed to win the war against drugs and illicit brews.

Nacada former CEO Jennifer Kimani, in an exclusive interview with The Standard on Saturday said the organisation has performed below expectations because of external and internal interference.

“Nacada needs restructuring to conform with the new Constitution. We can as well create a new body to deal with drug addiction and illegal brews,” said Ms Kimani.

She acknowledged that the challenges facing the authority are both administrative and political.

“We lack the good will to collectively fight the menace to a point that it is no longer anybody’s business,” she noted.

She also revealed, “I did not resign at Nacada. I was forced out.”

Kimani also faulted the President’s decision to disband Nacada board, saying it was a wrong move.

“The problem is not the board, it is the management. Apart from the chairman, the other members were just appointed a few months ago yet the organisation has had its fair share of troubles all along,” said Kimani.

But board chairman John Mututho refuted claims that the board had been dissolved.

“The board was not disbanded. We are working. I am from Bomet right now (yesterday) to commission 300 enforcement officers to deal with the menace,” said Mututho.

Kimani also challenged other organisations like Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Bureau of Standards, and the Government Chemist, to work closely with Nacada to win the war on illicit brews and drugs.