Nyandarua County enacts law against illicit brew
BY DPCS
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has lauded Nyandarua County for enacting the Nyandarua County Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, 2023 to support eradication of illicit brews, which are threatening to wipe out the youth.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is ready to pay the political price in pushing for stringent laws and other measures of curbing illicit brews, which he says are threatening to wipe out a generation.
Speaking on Tuesday when he hosted Members of the County Assembly of Nyandarua at the Official Residence in Karen, Nairobi, Mr Gachagua thanked the leaders for passing the Nyandarua County Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill, 2023 meant to combat sale of the poisonous brews in the county.
The Depiuty President said he is ready to pay the political prize if eliminating illicit brews in the country will cost his career.
The Bill was signed into law by Nyandarua Governor Kiarie Badilisha on January 19, 2024- two days after the County Assembly passed it. This makes the county the first to adopt a more stringent law to back the war against illicit alcoholic drinks, drugs and substance abuse spearheaded by the Deputy President as per the Executive Order No. 1 and 2 of 2023.
Other counties working on a similar law include Muranga Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Kiambu, among others.
“We will not relent in this war. Many people have tried to dissuade me from it, but we will not. If by enacting laws to protect the next generation from extinction, if by making sure that the law is strictly enforced to save the next generation from extinction, if that will bring our political careers to an end, so be it,” said Mr Gachagua.
Mr Gachagua said there is no pride in leading a drunken population that is unproductive to the facility and community.
“There is no need for one to lead a drunken population. There is no pride in being the Deputy President and everywhere I go, people are staggering and sleeping in ditches for being alcoholics. I would like to lead sober and dignified people; people who are prosperous, smart and work hard and take care of themselves and their families,” he added.
The law establishes the County Alcoholic Drinks Regulation and Management committee that will be tasked with streamlining the issuance of licenses for the manufacture, distribution and sale of any alcoholic drink in the devolved unit. The Act also establishes the Sub-county Alcoholic Drinks Regulation Committee that will be in charge of issuance of licenses in the sub-counties.
The law also prohibits transportation of alcoholic drinks between 6pm and 8am.
“This law is a panacea to the problems we are having. We had insufficient laws to deal with this problem. I will meet with security teams in Nyandarua to ensure full enforcement of this law,” said Mr Gachagua.
Nyandarua County Speaker Wachira Waiganjo said alcoholism is a big problem that demands absolute focus and determination.
“We are proud as a county assembly to be the first to pass this law. Our focus has been on contributing to the development of Nyandarua through relevant and productive Bills,” he said.
The Majority Leader in the Assembly, Mr Mwangi Nyaga, said they were also working with the Spouse of the Deputy President, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi in the rehabilitation of the alcoholics.
“Pastor Dorcas Rigathi Foundation has been of great assistance to us in rehabilitating hundreds of our people who are now leading better lives,” he said.
At the same time, the Deputy President warned against premature succession politics in the Mt Kenya region. He said it was the wrong time to engage in political positions yet people are expecting nothing but service delivery.
“Let us not be transfixed with childish politics of succession. We have barely come from elections. People want services, people expect us to serve them. They are looking at us for good roads, improved agricultural earnings. We cannot afford to lose focus. I would like to urge the people, especially from our region, to focus and unite under President William Ruto and work for the people as we promised them,” he said.