Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has slammed Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen over new measures to curb the sale of illicit alcohol in the country.
In a statement on Thursday, July 31, Gachagua accused Murkomen of 'enjoying' the people of Kenya and treating them with contempt.
The former DP said while in office, he set up practical measures to curb illicit alcohol and tackle drug abuse, successfully eliminating poisonous brews and restoring sobriety among those who had been affected.
"CS Interior, you are wasting your time and enjoying the people of Kenya, and treating them as fools.
"While in office, I put practical measures to curb illicit alcohol and check drug abuse. In a record one year of consistent hard work and practical interventions, we successfully eliminated illicit and poisonous alcohol and brought sobriety among our brothers and sisters who had been affected," he stated.
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Gachagua accused President William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki of sabotaging the program.
“Your boss, Mr. William Ruto, with the help of your predecessor, Mr. Kithure Kindiki, and your PS, deliberately sabotaged the whole program, and all the gains made were lost. Your PS personally looked for manufacturers of illicit alcohol that we had shut down and authorized them to continue manufacturing and distributing poison,” he claimed.
The DCP Party leader also alleged that President Ruto sabotaged a successful program initiated by Pastor Dorcas Rigathi by withdrawing the budget from the office that was supporting the rehabilitation of youths across the country.
“What do you intend to do differently from what had successfully been done? Walk around issuing pressers and threatening Kenyans?” he posed.
Further, Gachagua claimed that the President is not interested in having a sober and productive nation.
The former Deputy President urged Murkomen to focus on enforcing existing laws on alcohol instead of proposing new ones.
“We have sufficient laws and other regulations on alcohol. Implement them. Spare Kenyans the joke and get to work,” Gachagua added.
Speaking on Wednesday during the launch of the national policy on the prevention, management, and control of alcohol, drugs, and substance abuse, CS Murkomen said there is no illicit alcohol sold across the country without the knowledge of chiefs and Officers Commanding Stations (OCSs)
“There is no alcohol or drugs that are sold in the country without the support and knowledge of the chief and the OCS,” said Murkomen.
During the launch, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) proposed raising the legal drinking age in Kenya from 18 to 21 years.
The authority also recommended establishing alcohol- and drug-free zones around schools and faith-based institutions and integrating life skills, drug education, and mental health awareness into the school curriculum.
NACADA also called for a total ban on outdoor advertising, social media endorsements, and celebrity involvement in alcohol promotions.
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