President Uhuru Kenyatta to lead war on illegal brews

President Uhuru Kenyatta has vowed to take a personal charge in the fight against alcoholism and sale of illicit brews.

The President said the fight against the illicit brews would begin in Central Kenya because it is the worst hit by the menace before it is extended to other parts of the country.

He described the sale of the highly toxic and destructive brews in the country as "the business of death" and initiated a four-day campaign to rid Central Kenya of the drinks before a countrywide campaign is rolled out.

"We cannot allow this (sale and consumption of the illicit brews) to continue," said the President when he met MPs, senators and Women Representatives from the larger Central Region at State House yesterday.

The delegation included elected leaders from Central Kenya, Nairobi, Meru and Embu.

The leaders proposed disbandment of the National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

The campaign to rid these region of the killer brews will be spearheaded by General Service Unit (GSU) commandant Joel Kitili in collaboration with the MPs who will report their progress to the President on Tuesday when they convene again at State House.

In renewed war on the brews that have affected mostly the youth in the agricultural-rich area, Uhuru told the MPs to convene meetings in their respective constituencies tomorrow to deliberate on the best way to address it.

"As elected leaders, you know where and who is behind these brews", adding that during the four days between Friday and Monday, his phone will remain open and accessible to the MPs in case they face challenges in the new campaign.

"My phone will be open 24 hours this weekend. Call me when you need me,"  the Head of State told the MPs who were accompanied to State House by County Commissioners and Police County Coordinators from Nyeri, Nyandarua, Kirinyaga, Kiambu, Muranga and Nairobi.

Youths in Kabete constituency led by their MP Ferdinand Waititu destroy wines and spirit outlets in Gikuni last week as war on illicit brew goes a notch higher in the area. This was after women in the area raised alarm over high consumption of illicit brew. PHOTO BY JOHN KARUME

The meeting was also attended by Cabinet Secretary for Interior Joseph Nkaissery and Principal Secretary, ambassador Monica Juma.

"We must agree we have a problem that need immediate action," the President said and asked the politicians to work closely with church leaders, village elders and women leaders to rid their constituencies of the brews.

He mandated the MPs and all those supportive of the new drive to move from door to door all outlets selling the illicit drinks.

The President said  the war against the illicit brews must be won in the same way the notorious Mungiki group was vanquished a few years back.

Inept officers

Uhuru was also very angry with the police and other national government administrators whom were accused on sleeping on the job in the fight against liquor.

"Any officer who does not co-operate must be dismissed on the spot. We cannot just continue talking. Hakuna mambo ya kunongea tena (time for mere talk is over)," said the President.

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

"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 affirmatively

President Kenyatta also instructed the National Youth Service Director Nelson Githinji, who was present to start a parallel campaign of rounding off drunk and addicted youths and put them in special centres for rehabilitation.

"They must start a new life. These young men are the most affected", said the President.

He told the respective senators to work with the governors to explore long lasting solutions especially on matters of licensing of bars. All the leaders who spoke at the meeting supported the new campaign, saying they were fully behind the President.

"We shall all focus on this singular issue," said Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru, who is the chairman of the Central Kenya Parliamentary Group.

Gichugu MP Njogu Barua said: "We will hit the ground running from Friday (tomorrow) morning and ensure that we get rid of these monster that is killing our youth who are in their most productive age," said Barua.

Mwea MP Peter Gitau said: "Our gloves are off and we are not turning back. I'm sure by Tuesday we will start seeing the results," said Gitau.