NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 29 — A Garissa University student has been arrested after police recovered 650 rolls of cannabis sativa (bhang) during a targeted operation at a hostel within the institution.
The National Police Service (NPS) said officers acted on credible intelligence indicating that the student was involved in the sale and distribution of narcotic drugs within the university.
“Officers deployed at a higher learning institution in Garissa County yesterday (Wednesday) acted on credible intelligence indicating that a student was involved in the sale and distribution of narcotic drugs within the school premises,” the NPS said on Thursday.
Police said the large quantity recovered suggests an organised supply network, raising concerns about the growing presence of drugs in institutions of learning.
“The substantial quantity recovered suggests an organised effort to supply the illegal substance, raising serious concerns about the growing presence of drugs within institutions of learning,” the statement said.
The suspect was placed in custody and is expected to be arraigned in court to face charges related to possession and trafficking of narcotic drugs.
Police warned that the case highlights the increasing threat of drug abuse among young people and the continued infiltration of narcotics into learning institutions.
“The National Police Service remains steadfast in its commitment to combat this menace,” the statement added.
Rampant abuse
The arrest comes amid heightened government concern over rising drug use in Kenyan universities.
In August 2025, the government announced new measures to curb the growing consumption of cannabis and other drugs in higher learning institutions, warning that the trend threatens students’ wellbeing and the country’s future workforce.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said security agencies had uncovered a disturbing practice in which cannabis is baked into snacks such as bread, mandazi, and kangumu and sold to unsuspecting students within campuses.
“Because of the menace of drugs, particularly cannabis sativa, students in colleges and universities are being targeted through food items like bread, mandazi, and kangumu,” Murkomen said.
“These are disguised as ordinary snacks but are baked with cannabis. Edible cannabis is now prevalent around our universities.”
University-focused forums
Speaking during a Jukwaa la Usalama security forum in Kiambu, Murkomen said sub-county security committees will now be required to involve university and college leadership in their meetings.
“I have directed sub-county security committees to incorporate the leadership of colleges and universities in their security meetings,” he said.
“The dean of students, student leadership, local church leaders, and the business community must all be invited to participate.”
The warning echoes concerns raised by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), which has reported a sharp rise in drug use among students.
In February, NACADA released a nationwide survey across 17 universities involving more than 15,000 students, showing that about 70 percent of those arrested for drug use or possession were students, with cannabis, synthetic drugs, and alcohol being the most abused substances.
NACADA CEO Anthony Omerikwa described the spread of synthetic drugs as particularly dangerous.
“This is like fighting an invisible enemy,” Omerikwa said. “You don’t see it coming, but by the time you realize it’s there, it’s already too late.”
He said the findings should serve as a wake-up call, warning that substance abuse has grown beyond a campus issue into a national crisis.
