Gachagua allies hit out at PS Raymond Omollo over illegal brew remarks
Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang'wa addresses residents in Nyeri Town on December 4, 2024.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua allies have hit out at Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo over his dismissal of remarks by the ex-DP on the war against illicit brews as selfish and politically-driven.
In a statement by more than 20 lawmakers allied to Mr Gachagua, the leaders said PS Omollo failed to respond to the specific issues raised by the ex-Mathira MP.
The lawmakers are senators Karungo Thang’wa, Joe Nyutu, and Seki Lenku as well as MPs James Gakuya, Jayne Kihara, John Kaguchia, George Koimburi, Peter Kihungi, Benjamin “Mejja Dong” Gathiru, Edward Muriu and Mary Wamaua, among others.
The legislators pointed out that they expected the PS to speak to whether the government efforts against the production, distribution, sale and consumption of illicit brews had borne fruit when Mr Gachagua was in office and whether the menace has returned since he left office, across the country and especially within the Mt Kenya region.
“In fact, we believe the PS was being dishonest in only acknowledging deaths in Nakuru County because there have been deaths everywhere, especially in the Mt Kenya Region,” the leaders said in the statement.
“The return of illicit alcohol is a serious threat that will once again destroy families and communities across the nation, but especially in the Mt Kenya Region.”
The MPs challenged Dr Omollo to provide details of all the 29 companies dealing with second generation alcohol, where and when they were vetted as well as the names of the 15 companies that have been vetted and licensed to sell the second generation alcohol and where they are distributing their products.
Further, the PS should provide the names of the 14 companies that have not been licensed to sell the second generation alcohol; where they are located and their brands.
“The PS should specifically confirm whether the 13 companies he recently licensed were meant to sell exclusively in the Mt Kenya Region, and if it is true he vetted these ones entirely by himself,” the leaders said.
Mr Thang’wa said the government should come clean on steps being taken to address the resurgence of illicit alcohol in regions like Mt Kenya, despite the purported vetting of manufacturers and distillers.
Character attacks
He noted that it is both amusing and disappointing that the PS chose to trivialise Mr Gachagua’s concerns about illicit alcohol in Mt Kenya and other regions by prioritising character attacks over meaningful response.
For a matter as dire as the rise of illicit alcohol, a menace tearing apart families and livelihoods—one would expect a more serious and constructive approach from such an esteemed office,” said Mr Thang’wa.
“The assertion that Mr Gachagua’s remarks were politically motivated is as unconvincing as it is unproductive,” he added.
The MPs’ response follows a statement by PS Omollo condemning assertions by Mr Gachagua during a church service in Naivasha on Sunday terming them as “reckless, selfish and politically-motivated inflammatory statements”.
He argued that the ex-DP accusing the government of deliberately targeting citizens of Kenya in the Mt Kenya region with illicit and counterfeit alcohol distribution is unfounded and insensitive and can amount to breaking the law.
Mr Gachagua had on Sunday hit out at President William Ruto’s administration for watering down gains made in the war against illicit alcohol during his time in office, accusing the government of facilitating the distribution of illicit alcohol in the Mt Kenya region.
Alcohol stores
He alleged that the PS had been instructed to order the reopening of all alcohol stores including companies that manufacture the drinks and allowing the sale of the products.
“We take great exception that such grave national matters can be trivialised by one individual, on a church podium nonetheless, without empathy for the families that may be struggling with this crisis,” said Dr Omollo.
The PS said the government does not produce, distribute nor retail any alcoholic drinks and therefore, any insinuation that any member of the Executive can direct the sale of any alcohol, whether poisonous or not, is mischievous and misconceived and would amount to an illegality.
“It is therefore in bad faith and disingenuous of Mr Gachagua to turn around, after serving this country at the highest office, and lay such ludicrous claims on such a sensitive matter that deeply impacts families and lives,” he added.
According to PS Omollo, in a bid to strengthen the war, in March, the government announced a 25-point enforcement program for suppression of the manufacture, sale, distribution and consumption of illicit alcohol, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in the country.
"All the twenty-nine (29) active manufacturers and distillers of second generation alcohol were vetted by a multi-agency team and only two were found to be fully compliant,” said the statement.
Re-vetting exercise
Dr Omollo further revealed that the government conducted a comprehensive re-vetting exercise involving twenty-two (22) out of the twenty-seven (27) dealers that had failed the earlier test and proceeded to license 13 more alcohol manufacturers and distillers.
However, Senator Thang’wa hit back at the PS, saying the reality remains that during the tenure of the former DP, Kenya witnessed a significant decline in the sale and consumption of illicit alcohol.
He said that progress, now seemingly reversed, deserves an honest evaluation rather than dismissive rhetoric.
The lawmaker added that families are suffering, and communities are desperate for leadership that prioritises solutions over political point-scoring. According to Mr Thang’wa, the government should focus on how to hold local enforcement officers accountable, ensuring they do not overlook the illegal alcohol trade.
“If lies and deflection were effective governance tools, perhaps we wouldn’t still be grappling with such tragedies as the recent loss of lives in Nakuru,” said Mr Thang’wa.
“The time for empty statements has passed. It is the responsibility of the PS, his CS, and the President to halt the sale and distribution of illicit alcohol and prevent further loss of life,” he added.
