- They said the outlawed brews have crept back into the region at an alarming rate.
- Leaders and residents, especially women have raised concerns and called for government intervention over heavy consumption of the brews
Image: JOHN KAMAU
Juja constituency has been declared as the most notorious area for brewing, sale and consumption of outlawed liquor and especially chang’aa in the Mt Kenya region.
A caucus of 37 MPs drawn from the region concluded that Juja constituency is leading in drug and substance abuse.
The lawmakers led by Juja MP George Koimburi met in Nairobi at the weekend and resolved to spearhead the fight against the illicit liquor and drugs in the region.
They said the outlawed brews have crept back into the region at an alarming rate.
Koimburi spoke during Jamhuri Day celebrations at Maraba in Witeithie ward.
He said the Parliamentarians will adopt a multi-agency approach to stage a spirited fight against notorious brewers whom he said have schemed new ways of perpetrating the outlawed trade.
“Illegal brews which have taken a lot of efforts from the national and county governments to fight are back,” Koimburi said.
“We are saddened that Juja has been pointed as the area where the vice has become rampant in the entire Mt Kenya region. We have declared war against the brews and all individuals in the illegal trade in the region.”
The MP said leaders and residents, especially women have raised concerns and called for government intervention over heavy consumption of the brews that have started claiming lives and escalating poverty levels.
He said in Juja, notorious individuals have been brewing the liquor along Rivers Ndarugo and Thiririka while targeting students in the area as their main customers.
Koimburi said that they will be engaging the region administrators, police officers, the county government, Nacada among other agencies in the crackdowns set to begin in early January.
“We will ensure that all chang’aa brewing dens are shut and the perpetrators brought to book. They are the reason why alcoholism and drug abuse are on the rise in our region,” he said.
“We will not allow the vice that was threatening the current and future generation to creep back.”
The lawmaker also raised concerns over the mushrooming of illegal liquor outlets in towns within the Juja constituency singling out the sprawling Witeithie estate.
He said the estate only has over 150 wines and spirits outlets where most of them are selling illegal liquor and second-generation brews.
Koimburi said that he will engage the Kiambu county government to ensure that all licenses be issued afresh from January 1 to pave way for proper vetting and weeding out of unscrupulous traders.
“No one will be issued with a license after the current one expires until we properly vet all the owners,” he said.
Juja deputy county commissioner Charles Muriithi echoed the MP’s sentiments warning that a major crackdown will be mounted in the region.
“We are also devising new tactics to fight the vice including using drones to monitor where the liquor is being brewed along the rivers. To those conducting the illegal trade, their days are numbered,” Muriithi said.
Juja Subcounty Bar Owners Association chairman Kimani Muiko also protested against the mushrooming of the liquor shops singling out unlicensed wines, spirits and bars which he said were contravening almost all alcoholic regulations.
“Those who operate illegally are boasting they are untouchable since they have godfathers. They have been a thorn in the flesh for legitimate operators. We call on the authorities to crack the whip,” Muiko said.
The crackdown on the production and sale of illicit brews in the Mt Kenya region was first staged by former President Uhuru Kenyatta on July 1, 2015, and was led by the then General Service Unit commandant Joel Kitili and area MPs.
Image: JOHN KAMAU