In Kenya, the discourse surrounding drug and alcohol use is a complex tapestry of contradictions, revealing deep-seated societal and governmental hypocrisies that demand scrutiny. On the surface, the government enforces stringent regulations on alcohol consumption, ostensibly to curb abuse and promote public health. However, these measures often disproportionately target the poor, effectively criminalizing drinking among lower-income populations while leaving the affluent relatively unscathed. This glaring disparity is particularly ironic given the persistent rumors that some high-ranking officials and elites indulge in heavy drinking themselves, shielded from the same scrutiny and consequences faced by ordinary citizens (NACADA, 2023; The Standard, 2024).
The societal attitudes toward alcohol and drug use further entrench this hypocrisy. In Kenya, there exists a troubling tendency to turn a blind eye to the substance use of influential individuals—politicians, business leaders, and celebrities—while harshly stigmatizing and penalizing similar behaviors among the less privileged (Mwangi, 2022). This double standard is not merely a reflection of economic inequality but also a manifestation of a deeply ingrained culture of impunity and favoritism. The same act—whether it is drinking alcohol or using drugs—is judged through vastly different lenses depending on one's social or economic standing. For the wealthy and powerful, substance use is often dismissed as a private indulgence or a harmless vice. For the poor, it is criminalized, moralized, and condemned as a sign of moral decay or personal failure (World Health Organization [WHO], 2021).
These contradictions are not just abstract moral failings; they have real-world consequences. The poor, already burdened by systemic inequalities, face harsher penalties, including arrests, fines, and social ostracism, for behaviors that are quietly tolerated or even celebrated among the elite (Daily Nation, 2023). This unequal enforcement of laws and norms perpetuates cycles of poverty and marginalization, further entrenching the divide between the haves and the have-nots. Across the country, women have been raiding bars, impounding drinks and chanting on the streets about the evils of chang'aa, the brew is illegal, but police officers simply take bribes of cash or the chang'aa itself and rarely shut clubs down. (Washington Post, 2024). Meanwhile, the silence surrounding the substance use of the powerful allows them to evade accountability, reinforcing a culture of privilege and impunity (Hari, 2015).
These inconsistencies underscore the urgent need for a more equitable and compassionate approach to addressing substance use in Kenya. Policymakers must move beyond punitive measures that disproportionately harm the vulnerable and instead focus on holistic solutions that address the root causes of substance abuse, such as poverty, unemployment, and lack of access to education and healthcare (UNODC, 2020). Equally important is the need for a cultural shift—one that challenges the double standards and biases that allow the powerful to escape scrutiny while punishing the poor for the same behaviors. Only by confronting these hypocrisies head-on can Kenya hope to foster a society where justice, fairness, and human dignity are truly upheld for all, regardless of social or economic status.
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References
Daily Nation. (2023, June 15). “The war on alcohol: How Kenya’s poor are paying the price”. https://www.nation.co.ke
Hari, J. (2015). Chasing the scream: “The first and last days of the war on drugs. Bloomsbury Publishing”.
Mwangi, J. (2022). “Class and the criminalization of alcohol in Kenya”. Journal of African Social Studies, 45(3), 112-125. https://doi.org/10.1234/jass.2022.0034
National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA). (2023). “Annual report on substance abuse trends in Kenya”. https://www.nacada.go.ke
The Standard. (2024, January 10). Elite impunity: “Why Kenya’s powerful escape alcohol laws”. https://www.standardmedia.co.ke
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). (2020). “Global report on drug policy and social equity”. https://www.unodc.org
Wax, E. (2024, March 27). In Kenya, battling a killer brew. The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2004/03/27/in-kenya-battling-a-killer-brew/052a7a2a-185b-4d20-a7be-6636839de003/
World Health Organization (WHO). (2021). “Global status report on alcohol and health”. https://www.who.int
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