President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday launched a four-day door-to-door blitz in Central Kenya to wipe out elicit brews and end what he called "the business of death".
He also said he was disbanding the embattled anti-alcohol agency but State House quickly withdraw the announcement about the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
There was confusion last night about the status of Nacada, which has faced claims of corruption and criticism that it is incapable of ending the menace of illicit brews that claim many lives. State House sent a note to editors clarifying that Nacada had not been dissolved and apologised. No explanation was given.
Uhuru gave Central Kenya MPs and senators four days to root out illicit brews and nab those who manufacture, sell and distribute them. He told them to go door to door and said no one would be spared. Illegal manufacturing is to be destroyed.
He compared the fight against illegal alcohol to the fight to eradicate the notorious mungiki gang.
GSU boss Jose Kitili and MPs will be in charge.
Any county official or police officer who interferes or tries to protects the merchants of death "must be dismissed on the spot," the President said.
He revoked all licenses for all bars and other outlets selling killer second-generation brews in the region.
“Nobody has a license to kill other Kenyans. All these businesses must be closed. All county commissioners are mandated to revoke licenses and close businesses,"the President said.
"This has become a major problem, especially in our backyard where they have destroyed our children, families and many young workers. People are dying every day. Even where I come from (Gatundu), this is a major problem," Uhuru said.
"We cannot just continue talking. Hakuna mambo ya kunongea tena (time for mere talk is over), the President said.
He made the announcement when he met MPs, senators and women's representatives from the larger Central Region at State House yesterday. They included elected leaders from Central Kenya, Nairobi, Meru and Embu.
The lawmakers are to report their, achievements and problems to the President on Tuesday when they reconvene at State House.
“As elected leaders, you know where and who is behind these brews," Uhuru said, adding he will be accessible to MPs in case they face serious problems and roadblocks in their campaign.
“My phone will be open 24 hours this weekend. Call me when you need me," the head of state told the MPs who were accompanied by county commissioners and police county coordinators from Nyeri, Nyandarua, Kirinyaga, Kiambu, Muranga and Nairobi counties.
The meeting was attended by Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery and Interior PS, ambassador Monica Juma.
-The President told politicians to work closely with church leaders, village elders and women's leaders in villages.
He mandated the MPs and others to go door to door, closing underground outlets and destroying the premises and equipment of manufacturers and others in the industry
Once the killer brews are eradicated, permanent committees will be set up to sustain the campaign and monitor the situation.
President Kenyatta also instructed the National Youth Service director Nelson Githinjito start a parallel campaign of rounding up drunken and addicted youths and put them in rehabilitation centres.
“They must start a new life. These young men are the most affected," the President said.
When the leaders convene at State House on Tuesday, will will bring reports of their actions, including all the revoked licenses and closed outlets.
All the MPs who spoke at the meeting drawn from all the counties supported the new campaign saying they were fully behind the President.
“We shall all focus on this singular issue”, said Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru who is the chairman of the Central Kenya Parliamentary Group.