Heroin addiction is wreaking havoc in Kenya, particularly along its coastal regions, as the country transitions from being a transit route for illicit drugs to a destination market. Communities like Lamu Island are grappling with the devastating impact of addiction, which is claiming lives and straining public health systems.
Mohamed Tai, a heroin user in Lamu, speaks candidly about his struggle. “It is a very bad addiction, but it is ignored by the community, government, and organizations. Small reasons drive you to start using,” he said, describing the mind-numbing effect of the drug.
Kenya’s proximity to the “Southern Route”—a drug trafficking corridor stretching from Afghanistan to Africa and beyond—has contributed significantly to this crisis. According to Boniface Wilunda of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Kenya was initially a transit point for heroin destined for Europe and America. However, some of the drug now remains in the country, fueling a growing local market.
The numbers are alarming. UNODC’s most recent data from 2019 estimates there are around 27,000 heroin users in Kenya. With a single dose costing as little as Ksh200 ($2), the drug’s affordability has spurred widespread use, especially in coastal areas like Lamu.
To combat the crisis, King Fahd Hospital in Lamu has set up a methadone clinic to help users transition away from heroin. Methadone has proven to be a lifeline for people like Bui Kitaa, who reflects on his journey to recovery: “Addiction was very bad on me. I did not have any friends; nobody trusted me. Since I started using methadone four years ago, it has helped me a lot.”
The challenge is enormous. An estimated 22 tonnes of heroin pass through the East African coast annually, with about 2.5 tonnes—valued at approximately $160 million—remaining in Kenya’s local market. As addiction spreads, Kenya’s government and healthcare system face increasing pressure to address this growing public health crisis.