President William Ruto has effectively militarized Kenya’s war on narcotics, announcing the immediate transformation of the Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) into a lethal, paramilitary formation with powers and training rivaling the elite Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU).

Speaking from the Eldoret State Lodge in a stern New Year’s address, the Head of State did not mince words. The directive signals a pivot from treating drug trafficking as a mere criminal vice to classifying it as an existential threat to national security—one that now demands the full weight of Kenya’s intelligence and border assets.

The ‘ATPU’ Model: What Changes?

For years, the fight against syndicates has been hampered by underfunding and compromise. Ruto’s new directive fundamentally alters the playing field. The revamped unit, domiciled within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), will see its troop numbers surge from a modest 200 to 700 officers.

These are not ordinary beat cops. According to the President, the new cohort will undergo “advanced paramilitary training,” equipping them to dismantle the complex, often violent networks of high-level traffickers. The unit is now mandated to work in lockstep with the National Intelligence Service (NIS), sealing the intelligence gaps that barons have long exploited.

• Force Multiplier: Staffing tripled to 700 elite officers.
• New Powers: Mandate to seize and forfeit assets instantly.
• Surveillance: Deployment of modern border monitoring tech.
• Multi-Agency Shield: Direct operational links with NIS and County Governments.

“No One is Safe”

Perhaps the most chilling warning was reserved for the police service itself. Acknowledging the “enemy within,” President Ruto issued a stark ultimatum to public officers who have turned a blind eye—or an open palm—to the drug trade.

“Any public officer, including members of the security agencies, implicated in aiding, shielding, or working with drug traffickers will face prosecution and immediate removal from office,” Ruto warned. This zero-tolerance policy comes as the government moves to treat addiction not just as a health crisis, but as a “national development and security emergency.”

The Cost of Inaction

The context of this escalation is grim. Substance abuse has hollowed out the workforce in key regions, particularly the Coast and Central Kenya. By integrating County Governments into this security matrix, the State aims to close the loop between enforcement and rehabilitation.

While the exact budget for this specific expansion remains undisclosed, it falls under the broader police modernization program, which has seen estimates rise to over KES 28 billion (approx. $215 million) in recent fiscal planning. The investment reflects a realization that the cost of rehabilitation and lost productivity far outstrips the price of enforcement.

“We will establish a strengthened Anti-Narcotics Unit... with operational capacity comparable to the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit,” Ruto declared, framing the battle as a “personal mission” to save a generation at risk.