A CONCEPT PAPER ON:

THE EFFECTS OFILLICIT BREW, DRUGS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ITS CONTRIBUTION
TOWARDS INSECURITY IN KENYA. A CASE STUDY OF NAKURU COUNTY.
 ABSTRACT
This study examines the the effects of illicit brews, drugs and substance abuse and its
contribution to insecurity in Kenya. A case study will be conducted in Nakuru County.
Specifically the study seeks to examine the nature and extent insecurity resulting from the
consumption illicit brews, drugs and substance abuse in Kenya. The study assumes a cross-
sectional survey design which employed both quantitative and qualitative data collection and
analysis approaches. This design will enable the researcher to deeply analyze the phenomena
with a view to generalizing to a wider population.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ II

TABLE OF CONTENTS ....................................................................................................... III

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 1

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY.................................................................................................... 1

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM .................................................................................................. 2
1.3.1 General Objective .................................................................................................. 3
1.3.2 Specific Objectives ..................................................................................................... 3
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS ............................................................................................................ 3
1.5 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY ................................................................................................... 3
1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY ................................................................................ 3

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................ 4

2.1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 4

2.2 THE CONCEPT OF ILLICIT BREWS, DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ....................................................... 4
2.3 SECURITY THREATS EMERGING FORM CONSUMPTION OF ILLICIT BREWS, DRUGS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE .. 5
2.4 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ...................................................................................................... 5
................................................................................................................................................ 5

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY .................................................................... 6

3.1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 6

3.2 SITE DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................................. 6
3.3 RESEARCH DESIGN ................................................................................................................. 6

REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................... 7

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 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

Drug and substance abuse is defined as self-administration of drugs for non-medical reasons,
in quantities and frequencies which may impart inability to function effectively and which
may result in physical, social and/or emotional harm (UNODC, 2015). an illicit brew is
described as an alcoholic beverage which the ingredients are various substances that are
fermented to release ethanol. What makes the drink illegal is the use of methanol which
increases the volume of alcohol in the drink. Insecurity that results from consumption of
illicit brews, drug and substance abuse manifests in terms of crime comitted when the
offender is under the influence of these substances (caulkins, 2011). According to World Drug
Report (2015) of the United Nations Office on Drug and Crimes, a total of 246 million people
or 1 out of 20 people between the ages of 15 and 64 years, uses illegal drugs in the world
today (UNODC, 2015). Historically in the late 20th century, 69 per cent of arrestees in five
police areas in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland tested positive for
at least one illicit drug upon being arrested; and 61 per cent of those arrested for assault
tested positive for an illicit drug; In Brazil, drug-related violence is a particularly a serious
national challenge that has a negative impact on communities. Almost 30,000 homicides
registered annually, a high proportion are linked to drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking
(Feng, 2016).

Africa is a vulnerable transit continent for both cocaine and heroin; while West and Central
Africa have already witnesses increased cocaine trafficking (WHO, 2012). East Africa is fast
emerging as a transit route for Afghan opiates destined for European markets. The spillover
effect of increased drug trafficking through Africa has resulted to increased drug abuse in
African countries (UNODC, 2015). Nearly 90 percent of the alcohol consumed within East
Africa comes from illicit brews due to their affordability. Kenya, like many other developing
countries, has not been spared from the problem of illicit brews, drug and substance abuse.
If anything, the problem is worsened by the fact that the country is used as a conduit or
transit-point for harddrugs destined to other parts of the world. As such, some of the drugs
filter into the local market. Illicit brew accounts for 60% of alcohol consumed in Kenya
(Nacada, 2014) locally manufactured in homes, back street factories or imported into the
black market from neighboring countries by unscrupulous businessmen and drunk by people
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of various ages who cannot afford conventional drinks such as wine, vodka and whisky.
According to Kenya government records on drugs related crime the number of convicted
prisoners due to drug related cases has risen by 166% from 2440 in 2003 to 6,486 in 2007,
with those convicted and placed under probation rising by 37% from 726 in 2003 to 985 in
2007 (Statistical Abstracts of 2008). Offenders convicted and imprisoned under the Liquor
Licensing Act of Kenya rose from 26,731 in 2003 to 29,080 in 2007 representing a 9% increase,
(Statistical Abstract, 2008). For these reasons this study seeks to examine the effects of illicit
brews, drugs and substance abuse and its contribution to insecurity in Kenya.

1.2 Statement of the problem

consumption of illicit brews and drug abuse is a problem that has raised concern all over the
world. In Kenya, a summary report of morbidity and mortality caused by alcohol consumption
and drug abuse in various parts of the country by NACADA from 6th – 11th May 2014 reported
105 deaths and 133 hospital cases (NACADA, 2014).This despite the fact that the government
has put up strategies to deal with the problem of drugs and substance abuse. The connection
between insecurity and illicit brews and drug abuse is massive (Hughes, 2016) including the
coverage of demand and supply. crime arises from a need for additional income to fund the
alcohol and drug purchases made necessary by compulsive drug use. Crime and violence
associated with drug abuse take on different forms at different levels in society. Consumption
of illicit brews and drug abuse impairs intellectual ability, educational achievement and
employment prospects, therefore crime becomes more rewarding relative to legal income-
generating activity and crime becomes a ‘rational’ response to lack of opportunity for some.

Various studies such as Nacada (2014) and Richard (2011) have been conducted in Kenya on
the impact of drugs and alcoholic consumption in the Kenyan society. The results revealed
that the most common substances used by young people were alcohol, tobacco, marijuana
(bhang/cannabis sativa) miraa (khat, a plant used as a narcotic) and inhalants such as glue.
These studies however, did not have any specific focus the contribution of illicit brews, drugs
and substance abuse to insecurity . This study therefore seeks to investigate the extent to
which consumption of alcohol and drug abuse contributes to insecurity in Kenya, a case study
of Nakuru county.

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 1.3.1 General Objective
The general objective is to examine the effects of illicit brews, drugs and substance abuse and
its contribution to insecurity in Kenya. A case study Nakuru County.

1.3.2 Specific Objectives

The specific objectives of this study are:

i) To examine the nature and extent insecurity resulting from the consumption illicit
brews, drugs and substance abuse in Kenya.

ii) To determine the socio-economic factors that influence the consumption illicit brews,
drugs and substance abuse in Kenya.

iii) To examine the efforts of law enforcement agencies in curbing drug related crimes.

1.4 Research questions

i. What is the nature and extent insecurity resulting from the consumption illicit brews,
drugs and substance abuse in Kenya?

ii. What are the socio-economic factors that influence the consumption illicit brews,
drugs and substance abuse in Kenya?

iii. What are the efforts taken by the Kenyan law enforcement agencies in curbing drug
related crimes?

1.5 Justification of the study

This study will highlight on the extent to which consumption of illicit brew and drug and
substance abuse contributes to insecurity in Kenya. Through the information that will be
gathered from the study in areas of drug related crimes, the study findings will help law
enforcement agencies to develop effective strategies and policies that could be used to
control the substance abuse problem thereby preventing insecurity that results from
consumption of illicit brews, drugs and substance abuse in Kenya. Furthermore, the findings
of this study will help researchers and academicians carrying out studies on alcohol and drug
abuse as a basis of their research.

1.6 Scope and Limitations of the study

The focus of this study is examine the effects of illicit brews, drugs and substance abuse and
its contribution to insecurity in Kenya. A case study of Nakuru County. This study will be
carried out in in the low income areas of Nakuru County. The location was chosen because of

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the high rates of illicit brews and drug abuse tendencies reported in the area. The study is
only limited to residents of Nakuru County who are aged eighteen years and above.

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction
This section presents the literature on alcohol and drug abuse. Information gathered from
previous studies is used to provide an understanding of the effects of illicit brews, drugs and
substance abuse and its contribution to insecurity in Kenya.

2.2 The concept of illicit brews, drug and substance abuse

Illicit brews is a generic term for alcoholic beverages prepared in rural homes made
throughout the globe from indigenous ingredients reflecting the customs, tastes, and raw
materials for fermentation available in each region. Riley (1999) notes that the term
frequently applies to small-scale production and that all over the world, various communities
engage in illicit brewing from the available foodstuffs through either fermentation or
distillation. Midanik and Room (1992), observe that in North and South America, the
indigenous people prepare illicit brews through fermentation and distillation. In Brazil
distillation is carried out traditionally in rural homes. Artisanal liquors (especially cachaça
made on small farms) tend to be of good quality and prized by collectors. One form that can
be qualified as illicit brew is known as Maria Louca (Crazy Mary), made in jails by inmates from
many cereals, ranging from beans to rice or whatever could be converted into alcohol,
including fruit peels or candy, using improvised and illegal equipment. In Panama and Peru,
illicit brews comprising of Chirrisco and chichi have been allowed and even children permitted
to drink them. Illegal substances are prohibited and the use, possession or trading of these
substances constitute a criminal offence. These substances include cocaine powder, crack
cocaine, heroin, ketamine, cannabis, ecstasy, fentanyl, morphine, methaqualone (Mandrax),
opium, flunitrazipam (Rohypnol), methamphetamine and Wellconal (Hughes, 2016).

In Kenya, the commonly abused drugs include: alcohol, tobacco, marijuana (bhang), inhalants
and solvents, heroin, cocaine, prescription drugs-including sex enhancement drugs, anabolic
steroids, contraceptives (Nacada, 2014). However, alcohol and tobacco are the mostly abused

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substances since they are readily available. Alcoholic beverages may be categorized as
follows: first generation alcoholic beverages which include legal beer and spirits; second
generation alcoholic beverages. These are low priced and often have a high alcohol content
such as Senator Keg; traditional liquor such as Busaa and Muratina; and illicit brews such as
Chang‘aa

2.3 Security threats emerging form consumption of illicit brews, drugs and substance abuse
Insecurity associated with drug abuse take on different forms at different levels in society.
There are forms of crime and violence associated with international cartels, there is violent
crime perpetrated by or against individual drug abusers and there are innocent individuals
who are caught in the crossfire of violent drug cultures. caulkins, (2011) concluded that crime
was an inherent part of illegal drug use and that the commission of property crimes almost
always increased to support dependence level use of heroin, cocaine, crack, amphetamine
and even marijuana. In a similar review of over 30 years of research in Baltimore, Nurco (2013)
noted that during periods of narcotic addiction individual crime rates were six times higher
than during non-addiction periods. The author also found support for different types of
addicts: those who were more generally deviant and those who were economically
motivated. Brownstein (2016) also concluded that crime was greatly increased during periods
of narcotic use. Although this research on substances other than alcohol has generally
emphasized the economic motivation model and effects of property crimes, some evidence
suggests that certain drugs (e.g., amphetamines) may also increase violent crimes via a
pharmacological effect (caulkins, 2011).

Research on alcohol use and crime, on the other hand, has more often suggested a direct
pharmacological effect of alcohol use on violence and hence a larger effect on violent crimes
than on property crime. A number of controlled laboratory studies have shown that alcohol
intoxication is related to aggression when the subject is provoked (Feng, 2016). In addition,
statistics related to alcohol use by violent offenders generally show that about half of all
homicides and assaults are committed when the offender, victim, or both have been drinking
(Hughes, 2016). Rates of homicide and other violent crime have also been related to alcohol
availability and per capita consumption (Parker, 2015).

2.4 Conceptual framework

Independent variable Dependent variable

Intervening variable
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 Illicit brews Insecurity
 Provocation
 Financial need to  Violence
 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction
This section will specify the elements of the research methodology comprising of the site
description, research design, sample size and procedure, data collection methods and
instruments, data analysis, and ethical considerations.

3.2 Site Description

The study will be conducted in low income areas in Nakuru County. This is because areas have
high rates of consumption of illicit brews and drug abuse by residents in the area. Located in
the former Rift Valley Province of Kenya, about 90km from Nairobi, Nakuru is an
agriculturally-rich county blessed with various tourist attractions such as craters and lakes. It
covers an area of 7496.5 square kilometres. Nakuru County constitutes eleven constituencies:
Nakuru Town East, Nakuru Town West, Bahati, Rongai, Subukia, Kuresoi North, Kuresoi
South, Gilgil, Naivasha, Njoro and Molo. Nakuru County is home to 1, 603, 325 people (male
- 50.2% and female - 49.8%), according to the 2009 National Census. It is a cosmopolitan
county, with its population originating from all the major tribes of Kenya. The Kikuyu and the
Kalenjin are the dominant communities in Nakuru, making about 70% of the county’s
population. Both communities are mainly engaged in farming, livestock rearing and trade
business. Other communities such as Luo, Luhyia, Kamba, Meru and Kisii are also present in
Nakuru County especially in the urban centres. Majority of these people migrated here for
business and employment. The government is the main employer in the county.

3.3 Research Design

The study assumed a cross-sectional survey design which employed both quantitative and
qualitative data collection and analysis approaches. This design will enable the researcher to
deeply analyze the phenomena with a view to generalizing to a wider population. The reason
for using descriptive research design is that it measures the accuracy of the variables. The
findings from cross-sectional study resulted in development of important tenets of
knowledge and resolutions to important problems. It’s not only collecting information, but
also involves measures, classification, analysis and interpretation.

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 References
Brownstein, H. 2012. ‘The organization and operation of illicit retail methampetamine
markets.’ Criminal Justice Policy Review, 23(1): 67-89.

Bureau of International Narcotics and LawEnforcement Affairs (BINLEA). 2016. International

Narcotics Control Strategy Report 2016. Retreived last 4th January 2019, 11:41am at
http://www.state.gov/j/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2016/vol1/253286.htm.

Caulkins, J.P. & Kleiman, M.A.R. 2011. Drugs and crime. In: Michael Tonry (Ed), Oxford
Handbook of Crime and Criminal Justice. Oxford University Press, pp. 275-320.

Esbec, E. & Echeburúa, E. 2016. Substance abuse and crime: considerations for a
comprehensive forensic assessment. Adicciones, 28(1): 48-56.

Feng, L.Y., 2016. Comparison of illegal drug use pattern in Taiwan and Korea from 2006 to
2014. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 11(1): 34.

Hughes, C.E., 2016. ‘Poly-drug trafficking: Estimating the scale, trends and harms at the
Australian border.’ International Journal of Drug Policy, 31: 80-9.

Kenya National Bureau of Statistics(2010). Baseline population survey.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). 2015. World Drug Report 2015. United
Nation Publication, pp.5-18.

NACADA (2014). Summary Report of Morbidity and Mortality Caused by Alcohol Consumption
in Various Parts of the Country as at 11TH MAY 2014

Nurco, D. N.(2013). ‘A long-term program of research on drug use and crime.’ Substance Use
and Misuse 33, 1817-1837.

Midanik, F. (2005) Brief Interventions for Alcohol Problems: a Review. Addiction 88:125-32.

Parker, R. N., & Rebhun. L.(2015) Alcohol and homicide: A deadly combination of two
American traditions. Albany: State University of New York Press.

Rehm J.( 2004). Alcohol use. Comparative quantification of health risks: Global and Regional
burden of diseases attributable to selected major risk factors. pp 959 1108.Geneva:WHO.

WHO, (2012). Public Health Problems caused by harmful use of alcohol, Geneva

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