Who we are:

Mkono kwa mkono is a community-based organisation established to primarily address the insistent problem of drug and substance abuse in Kenyan Coast Region, specifically in Kilifi County. Established in January 2024 and registered in April 2024, Mkono Kwa Mkono provides a comprehensive approach to drug and substance abuse control that includes prevention and mitigation, treatment, as well as after-treatment and rehabilitation services by integrating the efforts of various stakeholders, including government agencies and non-governmental institutions.

Mkono kwa Mkono provides preventive services to young people who are vulnerable to drug and substance use and a range of services to individuals who are struggling with drug and substance addiction. These services include counselling, for individuals who are struggling with drug and substance addiction, referrals to rehabilitation, and aftercare services.

By partnering with relevant government agencies, Mkono kwa Mkono provides comprehensive and integrated care through education and awareness campaigns targeting young people who are vulnerable to drug and substance abuse. We also seeks to mitigate the drugs snag. Drug and substance abuse remain a significant problem in the Kenyan coastal region, affecting individuals across all age groups and socio-economic backgrounds. Kilifi County has been red-flagged as a hotspot by various studies and actors.

Drug and substance misuse is associated with a wide range of health and social problems, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, various cancers (e.g., breast cancer),substance use disorder, mental health disorders, neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), driving under the influence (DUI) and other transportation-related injuries, sexual assault, unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, intentional and unintentional injuries, and property crimes.

Given the impact of substance misuse on public health and the increased risk for long-term medical consequences, including substance use disorders, it is critical to prevent substance misuse from starting and to identify those who have already begun to misuse substances and intervene early. The national and county governments have put in place several programmes aimed at mitigating drug and substance abuse. these programmes have been effective to a significant extent.

However, there are still numerous challenges facing the programmes, including Ineffective and inefficient approaches, inadequate funding to help in effective implementation and the realization of success, inadequate and limited facilities, inadequate staffing in the existing treatment programmes, limited public awareness of the programmes, and corruption. Another notable gap exists in the access to treatment facilities by the youth, the unemployed, and those living in poverty.

It is with this background that Mkono kwa Mkono joins the pack in strengthening preventive programmes by targeting high-risk populations like youth and women and incorporating evidence-based practices in prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.