NACADA has dismissed claims that it has banned the sale of alcohol in supermarkets and shops across the country.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, the authority said reports circulating online and in some media outlets were false and misleading. It clarified that no ban has been put in place on alcohol advertising, online sales, home deliveries or celebrity endorsements.
“These are just proposals in a new national policy,” NACADA said. “They are not laws.”
The authority was responding to public confusion following the launch of the National Policy for the Prevention, Management and Control of Alcohol, Drugs and Substance Abuse (2025), which was unveiled in Nairobi by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.
NACADA press statement. Photo: NACADA Source: X
Soon after the event, reports began to suggest that NACADA had already enforced strict new rules. However, NACADA says that is not true.
“This policy is simply a roadmap,” the agency said. “It shows the direction we want to take, but nothing has been enforced yet.”
NACADA added that before any law can be made, there will be public consultations and legal reviews. It stated that the next step will involve input from government agencies, civil society, the private sector, and ordinary Kenyans.
Dr Anthony Omerikwa, the Chief Executive Officer, urged the media to report accurately and avoid creating panic.
“Our goal is to protect young people from alcohol and drug abuse,” he said. “We want a healthier and more productive society — not confusion.”
He also encouraged the public to follow NACADA’s official platforms for verified updates and not rely on hearsay.
“If there is any change, we’ll tell you,” he said.
