How to Get Admitted to Rehab
The 5-Step Admission Process
- 1Call or WhatsApp us (24/7)
- 2Free confidential assessment by phone or in person
- 3Agree the treatment plan and admission date
- 4Arrival, medical check and settling in
- 5Treatment begins: detox, therapy and recovery programme
How to Help a Loved One Accept Treatment
Choose the right moment: a calm, private time when your loved one is sober, not during an argument or a crisis. Speak without blame. Describe specific things you have seen and how they affect you ("I was frightened when you drove home after drinking"), rather than labels.
Involve one or two trusted family members or friends the person respects, and agree beforehand what you will say. Be ready with a clear next step, such as a phone call with our admissions team. If you are unsure how to approach an intervention, call us and we will help you plan it.
What to Bring
- National ID
- Any current prescriptions and medical documents
- Comfortable clothing
- Toiletries
Our admissions team will confirm the full list, including any items that are not allowed, before arrival.
Getting Here
From Nairobi: take the Nairobi–Nakuru highway, then either the Mai Mahiu road down the escarpment towards Naivasha, or continue to Naivasha town and head south on the Naivasha–Mai Mahiu Road to Mirera.
From Nakuru: travel south on the Nakuru–Nairobi highway to Naivasha town, then follow the Naivasha–Mai Mahiu Road to Mirera.
From Naivasha town: follow the Naivasha–Mai Mahiu Road towards Mt. Longonot to Mirera. Call 0706 466 150 and we will guide you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be admitted today?
Our admissions team is available 24 hours a day. Call or WhatsApp us and we will carry out a free, confidential assessment and agree the treatment plan and admission date with you as quickly as possible.
Do I need a referral?
You can contact us directly by phone or WhatsApp. Our team will carry out a free confidential assessment by phone or in person and explain the next steps.
Can I visit before admission?
Contact our admissions team to arrange a visit. Seeing the centre and meeting the team can help you and your family feel ready for admission.
Signs and Helping a Loved One
How do I know if my child is using drugs?
Watch for changes rather than single signs: new friends, falling grades, skipping school, secrecy about phones and whereabouts, money or items going missing, red eyes, unusual smells, changes in sleep and appetite, loss of interest in hobbies, and mood swings or aggression. If several appear together, talk calmly with your child and consider a professional assessment.
How can I help someone who doesn't want help?
Stay connected and calm. Choose a sober moment, speak with "I" statements ("I am worried because..."), describe specific behaviour without insults, and offer a concrete next step such as an assessment. Stop rescuing them from consequences, such as repeatedly paying debts. Involve a few trusted people and get guidance from professionals on planning a structured conversation (intervention).
What is an intervention?
An intervention is a planned conversation in which family and close friends, ideally guided by a counsellor, tell the person how their drinking or drug use has affected them and ask them to accept treatment that has already been arranged. It works best when it is loving, specific and prepared in advance, not a surprise attack or a shouting match.
Can I force someone into rehab in Kenya?
Treatment generally works best when an adult agrees to it. Kenya's Mental Health Act does set out procedures for involuntary admission of people with mental illness in specific circumstances, including risk to themselves or others, but these are legal and medical processes, not something a family or rehab can arrange on its own. Forcibly detaining an adult in a rehab without the proper legal process is unlawful. Speak to a qualified professional or the NACADA helpline 1192 about your options.
Should I give money to a family member who drinks or uses drugs?
Giving cash often ends up funding the addiction, even when the reason given is genuine. If you want to help, pay specific costs directly (for example rent, school fees or a treatment deposit) and be clear about your limits. Supporting treatment is more helpful than supporting daily needs that free up money for alcohol or drugs.
What is enabling?
Enabling means actions that, often out of love, make it easier for addiction to continue: making excuses to employers, cleaning up after binges, paying debts, or ignoring obvious problems to keep the peace. Healthy support means allowing natural consequences while offering help with treatment.
How do I talk to my husband or wife about their drinking?
Pick a calm time when they are sober, speak privately, describe specific incidents and how they affected you and the children, and avoid labels like "drunkard". Have information ready about counselling or assessment. Expect denial at first; one conversation is rarely enough. If there is violence, your safety comes first: contact the police on 999 or 112, or a support organisation.
How do I cope as a family member of an addict?
Look after your own health, sleep and support network. Learn about addiction, set clear boundaries, and avoid trying to control every situation. Family therapy and support groups such as Al-Anon (for families of people who drink) can help. Remember that you did not cause the addiction and cannot cure it alone.
What should I do if my loved one relapses?
Stay calm and avoid shame or punishment, which often deepen the cycle. Encourage them to contact their counsellor or treatment centre immediately, review what triggered the relapse, and consider whether they need more intensive support. Relapse is common in recovery and is a signal to adjust treatment, not proof that treatment has failed.
Are there signs that someone is hiding alcohol?
Signs include bottles hidden in cars, wardrobes or bags; frequent mints or perfume to mask the smell; drinking before going out; becoming defensive when alcohol is mentioned; unexplained spending; and appearing drunk without being seen to drink.
Worried about someone? Talk to our team in confidence: 0706 466 150 or WhatsApp.
Rehab: Choosing and What Happens
What happens in rehab?
Residential rehab usually starts with an assessment and, if needed, medical detox. Clients then follow a daily routine of individual counselling, group therapy, education about addiction, life-skills sessions, exercise and recreation, and family sessions. Before discharge, the team prepares a relapse-prevention and aftercare plan.
How long is rehab?
Residential programmes in Kenya commonly run 30, 60 or 90 days. Research generally shows that longer engagement in treatment, often at least three months including aftercare, is linked to better outcomes. The right length depends on the person's assessment, substance history and support at home.
How do I choose a good rehab centre in Kenya?
Check that the centre is accredited by NACADA (call 1192 or check NACADA's list of accredited facilities), has qualified medical and counselling staff, offers supervised detox, involves families, protects confidentiality and has a clear aftercare plan. Visit if you can, ask about fees in writing and be wary of centres that use force, chains, starvation or punishment.
How do I know if a rehab centre is accredited by NACADA?
NACADA publishes a directory of accredited treatment and rehabilitation facilities on its website, and you can call the free helpline 1192 to confirm a centre's status. Ask the centre to show its current accreditation certificate. In 2025/26 NACADA inspected over 200 facilities and closed several for failing minimum standards.
What is the difference between inpatient and outpatient rehab?
Inpatient (residential) rehab means living at the centre full-time, away from triggers, with 24-hour support. Outpatient treatment means attending counselling sessions while living at home and working. Inpatient care suits people with heavy dependence, previous relapses, or an unsafe home environment; outpatient suits milder problems or follow-up after residential treatment.
Can I visit someone in rehab?
Most centres allow visits according to a schedule, usually after the first one or two weeks when the client has settled. Family days and family therapy sessions are often encouraged because family involvement supports recovery. Ask the centre about its visiting policy.
Can I use my phone in rehab?
Policies differ. Many centres limit phone use, especially in the early weeks, to help clients focus on recovery and avoid contact with people who supply drugs or alcohol. Families can usually contact staff for updates.
What should I pack for rehab?
Typically: national ID, any current prescriptions and medical records, comfortable clothes for the length of stay, sports shoes, toiletries (alcohol-free), a notebook, and contacts of family. Leave behind alcohol, drugs, valuables, and products containing alcohol. Ask the centre for its own list.
Is rehab confidential?
It should be. Kenyan law, including the Data Protection Act 2019, protects personal and health information, and NACADA requires rehab centres to protect client confidentiality. A good centre will explain who can access your information and will not share it with employers or others without your consent, except where the law requires.
Does rehab work?
Treatment helps many people reduce or stop using and improve their health, relationships and work. Relapse rates for addiction are similar to those of other long-term illnesses such as asthma or hypertension, roughly 40-60% according to the US National Institute on Drug Abuse, which is why continuing care after rehab is so important.
Can I lose my job for going to rehab?
Many employers in Kenya now treat addiction as a health issue and support staff who seek treatment; for example, TSC refers teachers with alcoholism to rehabilitation. Talk to your HR department about sick leave, and ask the rehab centre for an admission or attendance letter. Seeking help early is usually better for your job than waiting for problems to escalate.
Are there Christian or faith-based rehab centres in Kenya?
Yes, many Kenyan rehab centres include spiritual support or are run by faith-based organisations. Whatever the approach, make sure the centre is NACADA-accredited and provides professional medical and counselling care, not prayer or discipline alone.
Do rehab centres admit women?
Many do, with separate accommodation for women. Women often face extra stigma and childcare barriers, so ask the centre about privacy, women's groups and family arrangements.
What is the 12-step programme?
The 12 steps are the recovery principles used by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). They emphasise admitting the problem, seeking support, making amends and helping others. Many rehabs introduce the 12 steps, and AA and NA meetings are held in many Kenyan towns as a free source of long-term support.
Worried about someone? Talk to our team in confidence: 0706 466 150 or WhatsApp.
Sources
- NACADA – National Survey on the Status of Drugs and Substance Use in Kenya 2022 (abridged): nacada.go.ke
- NACADA – How to get assistance / Helpline 1192: nacada.go.ke/how-get-assistance
- NACADA – Directory of accredited rehabilitation centres: nacada.go.ke/rehabilitation-centers
- Kenyans.co.ke (15 Jan 2026) – NACADA orders closure of 15 rehab centres; 1.3 million Kenyans need treatment
- The Star (14 Jan 2025) – NACADA warning to unaccredited rehab centres
- The Standard – Survey: most Kenyans have used alcohol or abused drugs (NACADA 2022 figures)
- Capital FM – Minimum age for initiation into drugs falls to 6 (NACADA 2022 report)
- Capital FM Business (Jan 2026) – SHA to offer enhanced treatment cover for drug addicts
- The Standard – SHA to offer rehabilitation services for teachers suffering from addiction
- Harm Reduction International – Kenya country profile (methadone / MAT clinics)
- Kenya Law – Mental Health Act (as amended 2022); Alcoholic Drinks Control Act 2010; Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act 1994; Data Protection Act 2019
- World Health Organization – alcohol and substance use fact sheets; US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) – treatment and relapse; US CDC – cannabis use disorder
This information is for general education and does not replace advice from a qualified health professional. If you or someone you know is in danger, call 999 or 112.
Related pages
Rehab Fees
Costs and payment options.
Read moreMedical Detox
What happens during supervised detox.
Read moreContact
Call, WhatsApp or visit our admissions team.
Read moreRecognising when someone needs help
Changes families may notice before seeking support.
Read moreFamily and recovery
The role of family support in recovery.
Read more