Baringo Central deputy county commissioner (DCC) Henry Tiya has issued a strict order prohibiting any form of gambling within the area.
The deputy county commissioner said that the measure has been taken following a series of unheeded warnings to the youth to shun the vice.
Mr Tiya issued the order at Kabarnet National Museum grounds during the launch of National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) bursary distribution presided over by area member of parliament Joshua Kandie.
He noted that a good percentage of local youth especially in Kabarnet town have involved themselves in gambling to a point where whenever his officers confiscate and destroy the machines, new ones are replaced immediately with impunity.
Tiya announced that they are now taking the crackdown to another level where they will arrest the owners of the machines as well as the gamblers.
The commissioner who also sounded a warning to those engaging in the sale of second-generation alcohol and illicit traditional brews in the region said that his major aim is to protect the well-being of residents.
“We are readying our patrol vehicles and we shall deal with all the law breakers firmly and ruthlessly,” he warned.
Tiya called for the support of all stakeholders in ending the vices which he observed have led to shifting of responsibilities in the society to women who are now begging for relief food and school fees for their families.
Kandie acknowledged the challenge and offered his support to the DCC to see to it that the matter is dealt with resolutely once and for all.
The MP said he is going to convene a meeting in May this year for all village elders and chiefs to formulate appropriate mechanisms of tackling social ills in the society.
He commended chiefs whose areas have improved after teaming up with other actors in securing the lives of the people.
By Benson Kelio and Joshua Kibet
