Strategies of regulating alcoholism and drug abuse in Kenya’s line ministries: a case study of the ministry of devolution and planning

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to establish the strategies that have been put in place at public workplace by the government of Kenya in spearheading the fight against Alcohol and Drugs Abuse (ADA). Specifically, the study sought to; identify strategies put in place, determine the extent of implementation of the strategies, establish ethical principles that guide anti-ADA campaigns, establish the degree of enforcement, and identify challenges that impede enforcement of these strategies specific reference to Ministry of Devolution. The study employed quantitative data collection methodology, with qualitative methods also used to gather data from key informants and observation during the study. Tools used in the study were questionnaire, interview guide and observation guide. The departmental line managers of the Ministry of Devolution and Planning were approached by the researcher to allow him carry out the study. Officers under the line managers were asked to pick and fill the questionnaire and return them to the heads of departments’ offices. Line managers were key informants of this study. The decision to conduct the study at the Ministry of Devolution and Planning was due to the fact that seven former ministries in the previous government (before the 2013 general elections) were merged to form one government ministry, the Ministry of Devolution and Planning, with the former ministries being departments, and thus it was easy to find out if their former ministries (currently, departments) had developed strategies on anti-ADA. The findings of the study shows that: Kenya government institutions were at different levels in the fight against ADA; government uses some global strategies in anti-ADA efforts, such as development of programmes to fight both ADA and HIV/AIDs. The study concluded that there were efforts of sensitizing civil servants on ADA, and that efforts had been put in place to mitigate against ADA and its link risk of HIV/AIDs. The study recommends that more funding be allocated to anti-ADA initiatives at both national and county levels, and that legislation on ADA be improved so as to support government agencies charged with anti-ADA campaigns such as the National Agency for Coordination of Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).