Uhuru orders crackdown on illicit brews in central Kenya

Politics and policy

President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) with his deputy William Ruto at a past event. PHOTO | FILE 

By KIARE NJOROGE

President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered a crackdown on the production and sale of illicit liquor in central Kenya equating the menace to the outlawed Mungiki sect.

The President said the fight against illicit brews will begin in the region because it is the worst hit and will be led by General Service Unit (GSU) commandant Joel Kitili and the area MPs.

“We cannot allow this (sale and consumption of the illicit brews) to continue”, said Mr Kenyatta when he met MPs from the region in State House on Wednesday.

The President’s directive came hours after Kiambu Governor William Kabogo suspended the licences of all wines and spirits outlets in the county.

In April, Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria had similarly ordered that all licences of wines and spirits outlets be revoked.

Media reports from central Kenya have in the last several years quoted leaders and women asking for government intervention over the consumption of illicit brews.

Major problem

“They have become a major problem especially in our backyard where they have destroyed our children, families and many young workers. People are dying every day. Even where I come from (Gatundu), this is a major problem,” said Mr Kenyatta.

He gave the team of MPs and police four days to “clean” central Kenya. They are to report on their and achievements to the President on Tuesday when they convene again at State House.

He instructed them to immediately meet with their respective county commanders to draw strategies of closing all outlets selling illicit brews-with or without licences.

Packaging

“Nobody has a licence to kill other Kenyans. All these businesses must be closed. All county commissioners are mandated to revoke these licences and close the businesses,” he said.

The directive comes amidst a growing concern that youth in central Kenya have taken to excessively indulging in the brews, which have stunted their economic productivity.

The production and sale of illicit liquor has over the years become big business with some packaging the deadly brews for sale in licensed bars. In multiple occasions, partakers of the brews have died or left blind.

Mr Kenyatta described the sale of the brews as “the business of death”, adding that the same war will be extended to the rest of the country after the clean-up of central.