NACADA closes 15 rehabilitation facilities for health standards violations

The state body conducted a nationwide inspection on 236 facilities across 36 counties under a Rapid Results Initiative (RRI). 

After the inspection, 135 facilities were fully accredited, offering a combined residential bed capacity of nearly 3800.

“30 facilities were denied accreditation while 15 facilities were issued immediate closure notices due to several violations that posed risks to clients, including expired medicines, poor hygiene, unsafe structures, and a lack of qualified medical personnel,” NACADA stated in a statement on Thursday. 

From the inspection, additional 56 facilities were found to have compliance gaps and will remain under close monitoring. 

According to NACADA, most accredited facilities are privately owned, making quality impatient care unaffordable for many families. 

There is also a critical shortage of public outpatient and community-based services, and an alarming lack of specialized rehabilitation services for women and adolescents.

“From our last national survey on the status of alcohol and drug abuse in the country, over 1.3 million Kenyans need treatment and rehabilitation services for women and adolescents,” NACADA stated.

NACADA has called on county governments to prioritise public, accessible treatment facilities and urged partners to invest in community-based and specialized services.