Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has continued his attack on President William Ruto's administration, accusing the current regime of slowing down the fight against illicit brewing in Mt Kenya and other regions of the country.
The former Mathira MP claimed that the war against illicit brewing, which he fought vehemently, had lost momentum after he was hounded out of office.
Speaking during a church service in Naivasha, Nakuru County, on Sunday, Mr Gachagua argued that the war against illicit liquor and drug abuse had begun to bear fruit when he was at the forefront of the fight.
But he said the gains were slowly being reversed, citing the death of three people from illicit liquor in Bahati, Nakuru County, on Saturday.
“When l was in office l led a sustained fight against illicit liquor and drug abuse and our children had started growing well. But since the time they started fighting me and finally hounded me out of office, alcoholism is back and it has started killing our children,” said Mr Gachagua.
“I want to ask government officials not to let our boys fail to grow into real men. Our boys are in danger, our seed carriers.”
He regretted that alcoholism started creeping back into the Mt Kenya regions when his troubles in government began.
The former DP argued that the region's population was now under threat from alcohol and drug abuse, accusing the government of allowing illicit liquor to be produced and sold freely, especially in Mount Kenya.
“We don't want to see our youth in the trenches again because of alcoholism. I urge government officials to resume the fight against illicit liquor and drugs menace,” he said.
“You succeeded in pushing me out, but let the work that l started remain,” he said.
At the same time, he claimed that President Ruto has been neglecting various parts of the Mount Kenya region, and instead opting to visit other areas in Nyanza, Western and Coast.
He challenged the Head of State to go back to the region and tell the people why he had betrayed them despite voting for him overwhelmingly.
“I have seen President Ruto has decided to avoid visiting parts of the Mount Kenya region. He had said he would come, but l hear he has postponed the visits to next year,” said Mr Gachagua.
“Let him come and answer several questions from the people. The people who woke up to vote for you are waiting for you, to ask you tough questions.”
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua accompanied and other politicians during a Sunday service at the PCEA Church in Naivasha, Nakuru County, on December 22, 2024.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation
He was accompanied by more than six MPs allied to him, including the host, Jayne Kihara (Naivasha), Wanjiku Muhia (Kipipiri), Mary Wamaua (Maragua), Joe Nyutu (Murang'a Senator), George Koimburi (Juja) and Edward Muriu (Gatanga), among others.
Ms Kihara urged the congregation to stand solidly behind the former DP, accusing President Ruto of betraying his most trusted lieutenants.
“President Ruto has betrayed us and l don't know why he thinks he can rule by bribing and intimidating lawmakers and other leaders to support him,” she said.
Before he was impeached, Mr Gachagua led a spirited nationwide war against alcoholism and drugs.
He had even proposed that the licensing of liquor outlets be transferred from county governments to the National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse (Nacada), a proposal that sparked a heated debate among various leaders across the country.
The war resulted in the government suspending the operating licences of all second-generation alcohol producers and distillers pending a thorough review by the relevant authorities.
In addition, bars and alcohol outlets within 300 metres of educational institutions and residential areas were ordered to cease operations.
The fight against illicit alcohol intensified when about 17 people died in Kirinyaga County earlier this year after consuming poisonous illicit alcohol.
The victims consumed the liquor at a California bar in Kangai village, which authorities said was unlicensed.
Some of those who consumed the poisonous liquor first went blind before they died. The illicit brew was suspected to have been laced with ethanol.
In Nakuru County, alcoholism has also claimed more than 16 lives in the past.
In 2021, for example, 16 people died in Bahati and Njoro sub-counties of Nakuru after consuming poisonous illicit liquor.
On August 8, 2021, a group of Hodi Hodi residents in Bahati, Nakuru County, consumed illicit brew and 10 people, including a pregnant woman, died.
Five of the people died within 24 hours and five others died days later while receiving treatment at various hospitals in Nakuru.
They had allegedly consumed 'poisonous' illicit brew at a drinking place in the JC area of Kabatini, Bahati Sub-County.
About 4 months later, on December 6, 2021, six more people died in Jawatho area of Njoro, Nakuru County, after consuming suspected poisonous liquor.
On Saturday, three people died in Lanet after consuming illicit alcohol.
