Thought Leader: Kenyan Security agents need better strategies to combat drug trafficking

A drug addict injects himself with drugs
Source: www.kenyancollective.com

Recently, the coast of Kenya and particularly Mombasa witnessed heightened activity on what police claimedwas a major crackdown on drug traffickers. The crackdown ended up in total embarrassment as police did not make any major arrest and even those they arrested were released by the courts for the lack of evidence. At one time, the Mombasa County Police Commander Johnstone Ipara was seen briefing the media bragging how they had seized three thousand shillings in coins from one of the suspect's houses as if there is any law that prohibits anyone from holding coins.

This must have been the most kneejerk reaction to combating drugs that I have ever come across and from the outset it was doomed to fail. Let me state why. I have lived in the coast of Kenya for the last two decades and I can attest that since getting here, there is nothing that grips the people of Pwani than talk about drugs popularly referred to as Unga.

The number of youth who are hooked to Unga is enough to make the community shudder when it thinks about its future. For instance, the NationalAuthority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse in a 2017 study reckons that drug abuse in the Coast of Kenya is a persistent problem, with a whopping 45.2% of residents having ever used at least one substance of abuse. The worst affected counties are Mombasa County (34.4%) followed by Lamu 32.0%, Tana River 31.1%, Kilifi 29.7%, Kwale 26.0% and Taita Taveta 20.7%.  

Statistics aside, the effects of drug use is evident in all the areas of Pwani. Zombie-like-stoned young men and women in all the low end estates of Mombasa County are a persistent reminder that the lives of the youth have gone to the dogs. When they are in need of their kick, they are always ready to do anything. They threaten, steal and commit all manner of crime as they seek to address their drug dependency. The overall effect is that such youth have been turned into social, economic and psychological burdens for their families.  Sadly though is the reality that a section leaders who are supposed to act as role models find the youth useful as ready markets and powerful tools of political coercion.

On the other hand, their families do not know peace because they are always uncertain about the lives of their addicted sons and daughters who whenever they engage in crime may end up being killed by the mob or the police who are always hot on their heels.

While the rest of the nation is concerned about dealing with alcoholism and to a lesser extent the use bhang, Pwani is concerned mainly about narcotic drugs. The issue becomes complex because in as much as it affects locals, it brings other faceless players in the international drug trade who are powerful, moneyed and ready to go to any extent to protect their otherwise lucrative business. They will therefore threaten, bribe and even kill whenever someone interferes with their businesses

The United Nations Office on Drugs Control observes that Kenya is a transit route for drugs originating from Pakistan and destined for Europe. The Kenyan coast particularly provides an avenue for trafficking drugs because of the extensive coastline and presence of private ports. Once the drugs arrive, a significant amount can be withheld and sold to the already existing market in the coast and the high end joints in Nairobi.

Mombasa Police Commander Johnstone Ipara.
Source: www.kenyanews.go.ke

Drug trafficking is an underworld operation that is conducted in a highly secretive manner. It seeks to undermine law and order by incorporating other illegal aspects of money laundering and terrorism. Drug traffickers are knowledgeable, smart, deep pocketed and understand the operations of the underworld. They are also well connected with deep roots in government administrative, security and legal systems that even when they are caught, it is merely playing for the gallery because no convictions will be forthcoming. 

Therefore, the war on drug trafficking cannot be won by razzmatazz, playing to the public gallery and public relations stunts where the journalists tag along taking endless rolls of pictures, recording films and  sound bytes of the drama. This approach as someone has observed is a defeatist approach towards curbing drug trafficking. Which trafficker would keep drugs in his house for the police to come and impound?

There ought to be much thought in the approach. And there is a lot in which our security agents can learn from the Americans and the manner in which they nailed the Akasha brothers. In Kenya, getting arrested for the Akasha's was a sick joke that they often laughed off because they knew they would be out of the cells before anyone could shout heroin.

The approach should involve the use of a crack squad of vetted undercover detectives who are committed to the war on drugs. This approach should involve infiltrating users with a view to trace the network up the ladder to who are the drug lords. The community should also play its role by sensitizing its youth against drug use

The Kenyan administrative and judicial system should be embarrassed to note it took less than two years for the Americans to nail down guys who used to walk in and out of court with a smirk on their face. From the Americans we can learn that nailing a kingpin is no big deal and it can be done with a good strategy, dedication and patience. Further, the embarrassment of sham arrests and prosecution should make us seek to do things in a different and better way, and I am certain that big brother America would be willing to help on how to do things.

Ends…………….