Kenya records sharp rise in drug busts, firearm recoveries decline - KNBS
The quantity of drugs seized has generally been rising since 2020, when 10,909 kilogrammes were recovered.
A new report has revealed an alarming 88.4 per cent increase in the quantity of illegal drugs seized by police in 2024 compared to 2023.
According to the 2025 Economic Survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), law enforcement authorities confiscated 26,858 kilogrammes of outlawed drugs during the review period, up from 14,259 kilogrammes in 2023.
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The quantity of drugs seized has generally been rising since 2020, when 10,909 kilogrammes were recovered. In 2021, 13,080 kilogrammes were seized, but the figure dropped to 5,850 kilogrammes in 2022 before more than doubling in 2023.
"The quantity of dangerous drugs seized almost doubled from 14,259 kilogrammes in 2023 to 26,858 kilogrammes in 2024," the report states.
During the same period, a total of 104 illegal firearms were recovered by police, including 46 rifles, 19 pistols, and 39 toy pistols. This represents a decrease from the 179 illegal firearms seized in 2023.
Additionally, 31 firearms were voluntarily surrendered to the police during the period, consisting of 29 rifles and 2 pistols. In 2023, 115 rifles and 2 pistols were handed over to the authorities.
Meanwhile, the total number of ammunition rounds recovered by police rose to 4,548, up from 2,248 in 2023, while ammunition rounds voluntarily surrendered to police totalled 272, down from 341 the previous year.
A total of 3,626 people were convicted on drug-related charges during the period, comprising 3,566 men and 60 women. In 2023, the number of drug convictions stood at 5,189, including 4,794 male and 215 female offenders.
A total of 95 foreign nationals were convicted of drug-related offences, including 76 men and 19 women, marking a drop from the 214 foreign nationals convicted in 2023 (170 men and 44 women).
"88.5 per cent of the total convicted foreign nationals were found guilty. Foreign nationals convicted of the offence of being unlawfully present in Kenya accounted for the majority at 71.5 per cent, followed by those convicted of drug-related offences at 8.9 per cent," the report notes.
Additionally, seven minors—five boys and two girls—were convicted of serious drug offences, a slight decline from the same number recorded in 2023.
The total number of children committed to prison during the year increased by 27.8 per cent to 534, with boys accounting for 84.8 per cent of the total.
"The majority of boys in conflict with the law in 2024 were committed for property-related offences (24.5%), followed by those committed for general stealing (16.8%). The percentage of girls committed for property-related offences was 4.0 per cent, while 3.1 per cent were committed for offences against persons," the report continues.
The KNBS survey also indicates that 13,828 people were convicted of liquor-related offences in 2024, down from 18,158 in the previous year.
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