Following a report from the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) identifying lecturers as individuals supplying drugs to students, university lecturers’ code of conduct has come under scrutiny.
NACADA’s recent survey of 15,730 students revealed that almost 50% of university students use drugs, with their lecturers being among the suppliers.
According to the report titled Status of Drugs and Substance Use Among University Students in Kenya, seven per cent of students obtained drugs from their lecturers.
NACADA discovered that parents are not entirely innocent, as some of them play a significant role in supplying these drugs.
Friends were included as other suppliers at 66 percent. In addition, the report emphasizes other significant sources such as canteens, bars, and establishments close to universities that make up 59.3 percent of drug access.
Fellow students within institutions are significant suppliers, providing drugs to 56% of users, while online purchases via websites and social media make up 39.4% of the total.
Non-teaching staff account for 11.4 percent, while canteens and bars located on university premises contribute 28.0 percent.
The report states that 50% of university students in Kenya have, at some time or other, used drugs or substances considered to be abusive.
NACADA discovered that alcohol ranks as the most widely used substance, with a prevalence rate of 40.5 percent. This is followed by cigarettes at 13.4 percent and shisha at 10.9 percent.
Other substances that are commonly accessible include cigarettes (64.4%), shisha (41.2%), vape or e-cigarettes (31.0%), nicotine pouches (30.7%), kuber (23%), and snuff or chewed tobacco (22.1%).
Among narcotic substances, the accessibility of smoked cannabis is at 61.7%, making it the most available option, followed by cannabis edibles at 47.6%, cocaine at 15.1%, and heroin at 14.3%. The report points out the increasing assortment of cannabis edibles, such as weed cookies, mabuyu, lollipops, and juice.
During the report launch, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen was present and pledged that the Ministry would initiate a crackdown on drug use in universities.
