By Lauryne Akoth
The Cabinet Secretary for Interior Kithure Kindiki announced that the government measures introduced last week on the eradication of illicit alcohol are irreversible and non-negotiable.
Sharing through his X page, the CS stated that the policies were not a declaration of war on businesses but an effort to combat the sale of illegal substances.
“The 25-point policy and operational guidelines are not a declaration of war with businesses, enterprise, revenue collection or science but meant to conclusively deal with the menace of poisonous and toxic substances that are destroying lives and hurting the future of our Country,” read the statement in part.
On March 6, 2024, the government unveiled 25 stringent measures during a press conference in Karen. These initiatives formed a crucial part of the government’s strategy to combat illicit brewing, drug, and substance abuse nationwide, prompted by the tragic loss of 20 lives in Kirinyaga County due to illicit brew.
Some of the measures announced included the suspension of licenses for all second-generation alcohol and alcoholic beverage distillers, a fresh vetting of all currently valid licenses allowing premises to recommence operations only upon obtaining renewed approval, and the acquisition of quality control laboratories featuring gas Chromatography and a Flame Ionization Detector for manufacturers seeking fresh licenses.
Additionally, the government also gave the following directives; specified operating hours for bars and alcoholic outlets, manufacturers failing to report counterfeit products to the Anti Counterfeit Authority being considered complicit, and the importation, manufacture, sale, use, advertisement, promotion, or distribution of shisha prohibited, with violations leading to immediate shutdowns of establishments.
Kindiki also emphasized in his statement that unlike past initiatives, which justified combating illicit alcohol, narcotic drugs, and psychotropic substances based on economic, social, political, and commercial interests, the current situation poses an existential threat to national security comparable to terrorism.
He affirmed that the government is committed to deploying all available resources and measures to eradicate this threat.