Kenya plans to partner with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in order to curb rising cases of drug abuse, officials said on Thursday.

Julius Githiri, Chairman of state-owned National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), told journalists in Nairobi that rapid urbanization has lead to a breakdown of the social fabric which has led to increased uptake of illicit drugs in the country especially among the youth.

"We are therefore going to partner with UNODC to develop mechanisms that will focus on prevention and treatment programs for drug victims," Githiri said.

UNODC is already implementing a life skill program in the coastal region that has one of the highest prevalence of illicit drug use in the country.

Githiri said bhang is the most abused illicit drug followed by cocaine and heroin.

According to the drug control agency, at least 4.9 million Kenyans used one form of illegal drug in 2017.

UNODC is also assisting Kenya to curb the drug trafficking vice in order to prevent the country from becoming a major transit hub for illicit drugs.

Githiri said the UN body is also providing Kenya with intelligence in order to curb transnational drug crimes.

NACADA said Kenya has also been selected to host an international anti-drug abuse conference in December.

Githiri said the event will bring together over 2,000 delegates from around the world to review ways to eliminate global drug menace.

Xinhua