Nyeri governor Mutahi Kahiga wants the national government to freshly vet liquor manufacturers in the country as a way of curbing the proliferation of illicit and counterfeit alcohol in the country.
Dr Kahiga says the fresh scrutiny of all distillers and manufacturers is necessary as it will ensure compliance with established health and safety standards as defined by the law.
According to Dr Kahiga, it will also help flag counterfeit liquor manufacturers whom he terms as the latest impediment in the fight against the illicit brew menace.
“All we are praying is this, that all the licenses, which are issued by the government for all the liquor manufacturers are cancelled and vetted afresh,” said Dr Kahiga.
Currently, there are 15 active manufacturers and distillers of second generation alcohol in the country.
The list was approved in 2024 following fresh vetting by a multi-agency team consisting of the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration, National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, Kenya Bureau of Standards and Kenya Revenue Authority.
Other agencies that participated in the fresh vetting included the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services, Anti-counterfeit Agency, Public Health Department, National Environmental Management Authority and the Department for weights and measures.
At the time, the government was rolling out a 25-point enforcement programme to tackle the manufacture, distribution, sale and consumption of illicit alcohol, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in the country.
He defended his decision to revoke licenses for bars and alcohol distributors for 11 shopping centres in the county noting that that move was aimed at bringing sanity in the sector.
The governor said that the fresh vetting will also be cascaded in the entire county adding that his administration will not allow the sale and the distribution of illicit and counterfeit alcohol.
“The sale of illicit alcohol is banned in this county and that is not negotiable. I want to believe even at the national level it should not be negotiable,” he said.
“I have already revoked all licenses in some shopping centres in this county and I have directed that we have a maximum number of bars because we cannot be a drinking community,” added the governor.
Dr Kahiga was speaking during the 12th edition of the Nyeri county annual prayer breakfast.
The event was attended by Central Region Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha, Principal Secretaries Anne Wang’ombe (Gender) and Alex Wachira(Energy) among other elected leaders.
On his part, the Central Regional Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha urged residents of the region to support government efforts in tackling the menace that has plagued the region for years.
He regretted that the illegal trade was being plied by unscrupulous business people who hail from the region and called on the residents to desist from blaming the government and President William Ruto for the age-old problem.
“Time and again we have heard that the central region has a serious problem of illicit brew but what is not true is that we want to assign this problem to the current administration. The truth is that it is not outsiders who are selling us counterfeit alcohol, “he said.
” They are being manufactured by people from this same region and the locals are their main customers. Since these are our brothers and sisters let us deal with them by putting an end to this illegal trade,” added the RC.
He also clarified that the war against the menace is not meant to undermine legitimate alcohol business.
Nkanatha also said that the government had not authorized the manufacture and consumption of illicit alcohol in any part of the country adding that it will not relent in ensuring that only safe alcohol is manufactured and sold in the country.
“We have instructions from none other than the president to fight and eradicate illicit alcohol, so do not be deceived that the government has okayed the sale of illicit alcohol,” said Nkanatha.
By Wangari Mwangi
