Stop with the lies, Interior fires back at Gachagua on war against illicit alcohol
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua speaks during a meeting with members of the Nyandarua County Assembly at his official residence in Karen on January 23, 2024. They said the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, 2024 will provide structural support to end illicit brewing in the devolved unit.
The Interior Ministry has dismissed claims by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that the government had slowed down in the war against illicit alcohol and drug abuse in the country.
The ex-DP had on Sunday, while attending a church service in Naivasha claimed, that the war against illicit liquor had lost momentum after he was hounded out of office in October through an impeachment process.
He further alleged that government officials had deliberately allowed the sale and consumption of illicit alcohol in various places mainly in the Mt Kenya region to weaken its voter numbers.
But Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo Monday, December 23 termed the claims as ridiculous, reaffirming that the government will not relent in the war against illicit liquor and drug abuse.
"The State Department of Internal Security and National Administration wishes to condemn the reckless statements made by former Deputy President Mr Rigathi Gachagua during a church service in Naivasha, where he accused the government of slowing down the war against illicit liquor and deliberately targeting citizens of the Mt Kenya region with illicit and counterfeit alcohol distribution,” read the statement by Dr Omollo.
"The problem of substance misuse affects people from all walks of life, including parents, children, spouses, and interrupts the family dynamics as well as affects the physical and mental health of everyone in it.”
While dismissing Gachagua's claims, the PS said the government will not relent in its ongoing nationwide fight on illicit liquor trade and consumption.
"Government officials including chiefs and their assistants are involved in the fight against illicit alcohol and drug abuse and it is inconceivable that they would preside over what Mr Gachagua accuses them of,” stated Dr Omollo.
"It is only last weekend that we had the unfortunate tragic loss of lives of three Kenyans in Nakuru following the consumption of illicit alcohol and their families are in mourning. We take great exception that such grave national matters can be trivialized by one individual, on a church podium nonetheless, without empathy for the families that may be struggling with this crisis, “added the PS.
Dr Omollo termed the remarks by Mr Gachagua as reckless and politically motivated.
"Insinuating that any executive can direct the sale of any alcohol, whether poisonous or not is mischievous and misconceived and would amount to an illegality, “further said the PS.
According to PS Omollo, in a bid to strengthen the war, in March 2024, 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.
Mr 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.
"The vetting process was carried out by ten (10) agencies. They are the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration, National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services (DOSHS), Anti-Counterfeit Agency (ACA), Public Health Department, National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) and the Department of Weights and Measures,” Mr Omollo explained.
"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,” stated PS Omollo.
"We welcome Mr Rigathi Gachagua to make official complaints and present the evidence he may hold to our investigative or enforcement officers if his true intention is to save the lives of Kenyans from the harm of illicit alcohol,” he added.
Meanwhile, the PS has asked Kenyans to work closely with government officials, especially during the festive season, to safeguard communities and protect children from harmful substances and abuse.
"Let us work together to reduce the availability and accessibility of alcohol in homes with underage children and report the sale of illicit or suspicious informal producers of liquor,” he said.
On Sunday, while attending a church service at the Presbyterian Church of East Africa, in Naivasha town, Mr Gachagua accused the government of slowing down the fight against illicit liquor and allowing it to flood the Mt Kenya region.
He regretted that alcoholism had started to creep back in Mt Kenya regions, in what he termed as a deliberate scheme to weaken the region's youth and suppress voter numbers in the region ahead of the 2027 election.
According to Gachagua the war against illicit brews, which he led before his ouster, had lost momentum after he was hounded out of office.
He said local administrators, including chiefs had been instructed to turn a blind eye on the crisis.
"The population of the Mt Kenya region is now under threat due to alcohol and drug abuse. They have allowed illicit liquor to be manufactured and sold freely, especially in Mount Kenya, “claimed Mr Gachagua.
The former deputy president maintained that the war against alcoholism should continue even with his absence from government.
Before he was hounded out of office, Gachagua was leading a spirited countrywide war against alcoholism and drugs. He had even proposed that the mandate of licensing of bars liquor businesses be transferred from county governments to the State ran-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 led to the government suspending operating licenses for all second-generation alcohol manufacturers and distillers pending thorough vetting by relevant authorities.
Additionally, bars and alcohol outlets located within a 300-meter radius of educational institutions and residential areas were ordered to cease operations.
