Kenya is facing a rising heroin addiction crisis, fueled by its location along the “Southern Route,” a drug trafficking network stretching from Afghanistan through East Africa to global markets. Once considered only a transit region, Kenya now faces a growing domestic heroin market, with approximately 27,000 users as of 2019, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Heroin use is particularly prevalent along the coastal areas, where addiction has become a major public health issue. In Lamu, King Fahd Hospital has established a methadone clinic to support recovery efforts. Clinical officer Aziza Shee Mubarak emphasized the importance of the clinic in addressing the challenge.
Recovering addict Bui Kitaa shared his experience, describing how methadone treatment helped him regain stability after years of social and professional isolation caused by addiction.
UNODC estimates that 22 tonnes of heroin pass through East Africa annually, with 2.5 tonnes—worth approximately $160 million—remaining in Kenya’s local market. As authorities work to combat the crisis, the demand for rehabilitation services continues to grow.