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The State Department of Internal Security and National Administration has strongly condemned remarks made by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing the government of targeting Mt. Kenya residents with illicit and counterfeit alcohol.
In a press statement released on Monday, Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo termed Gachagua's allegations as "reckless and inflammatory."
The accusations, made during a church service, suggested that the government was complicit in the distribution of harmful alcoholic beverages in the region.
The department emphasised the widespread and devastating impact of substance abuse on families across the country, highlighting a recent tragedy in Nakuru where three individuals lost their lives due to illicit alcohol.
We take great exception that such grave national matters can be trivialised by one individual, on a church podium nonetheless, without empathy for the families that may be struggling with this crisis.
The government reiterated that its officials, including chiefs and their assistants, are deeply rooted in their communities and are integral to the fight against illicit alcohol.
"It’s inconceivable that they would preside over what Gachagua accuses them of," the statement added.
PS Omollo dismissed Gachagua’s claims as politically motivated and lacking substance.
He clarified that the government neither produces, distributes, nor retails alcoholic beverages, and any suggestion otherwise is "mischievous and misconceived."
Government’s Efforts to Combat Illicit Alcohol
In March 2024, the government launched a 25-point enforcement program aimed at suppressing the manufacture, sale, distribution, and consumption of illicit alcohol and narcotics.
Key achievements include the vetting of 29 active manufacturers and distillers of second-generation alcohol, of which only two were found fully compliant.
A subsequent re-vetting exercise resulted in 13 additional manufacturers receiving licenses.
The vetting process was conducted by a multi-agency team comprising 10 organisations, including the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), among others.
Call for Responsibility During Festive Season
As the festive season unfolds, the PS urged all Kenyans to take an active role in safeguarding their communities from the dangers of substance abuse.
PS Omollo outlined five key measures to mitigate alcohol-related harm:
-Leaders must create awareness and support communities.
-Communities should hold each other accountable and responsible.
-Friends and family should discourage drinking and driving.
-Parents must reduce the availability of alcohol in homes with underage children.
-Citizens are encouraged to report the sale of illicit alcohol.
The PS invited Gachagua to provide any evidence he may have to the relevant investigative authorities if his intentions are genuinely to protect lives.