Gachagua Reveals How His Brother Died After Winning the 2022 Elections

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has opened up on the death of his elder brother Jackson Reriani after the 2022 general election. 

Speaking during an interview at Inooro TV's vernacular programme Kiririmbi on Sunday, March 17 night, Gachagua revealed that Reriani died of alcohol abuse while celebrating the Kenya Kwanza victory after the 2022 polls.

“My elder brother Jackson Reriani was an alcoholic. I tried to talk to him to stop alcohol abuse and even take him to hospital but he would relapse and go back to alcohol. After we won the 2022 elections, he took alcohol to celebrate the victory. He died,” said Gachagua

The Deputy President appealed to families with alcohol-addicted kin to speak out and called on the religious leaders to disclose to the public whenever one of their faithful succumbs to the effects of alcohol and drug abuse.

He noted that many families in the country have suffered the brunt of alcoholism menace and drug abuse.

Giving his personal experience, Gachagua said the death of his brother hit him hard as he was left without a sibling to talk with.

“When we talk about alcoholism and fighting the menace, it is not politics. We are speaking while experiencing so much pain in our hearts. We know what alcohol abuse has done to us, our neighbours and friends,” he continued.

Gachagua stated that the bottom line of the ongoing nationwide crackdown on illicit brews and drug abuse is to save families and generations and turn the youth into builders of the country’s economy.

“We must tackle alcoholism. To combat the proliferation of illicit brews, stringent measures will be put in place to monitor alcohol production and distribution. By enforcing strict regulations and conducting regular inspections, authorities will ensure that only licensed manufacturers produce alcohol, thereby reducing the availability of harmful and counterfeit products in the market,” he said.

Gachagua further called on the Judiciary to prioritize public interest and safety when handling legal disputes filed by manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of second-generation brews.

According to data from the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), one in every five families in Kenya has a relative suffering from physical and emotional health problems resulting from alcohol.