Farouk Kibet during an empowerment forum in Uasin Gishu county
/MATHEWS NDANYI
President William Ruto’s aide, Farouk Kibet, has raised concerns over the growing scourge of alcoholism and drug abuse in Uasin Gishu County.
During a public empowerment forum in Kesses, Farouk launched a scathing attack on police officers and security agencies, whom he accused of turning a blind eye—or worse, aiding the illicit trade, which is tearing families apart and putting the future of the youth at risk.
“We have senior police officers here, including OCPDs, whose work is to collect bribes from those selling alcohol and drugs to ruin the lives of our people,” he said.
According to Farouk, young people are dropping out of schools and colleges due to the severe effects of drugs and cheap, often toxic brews that have flooded both rural and urban centers.
He questioned how trucks ferrying illicit alcohol bypass roadblocks, claiming some officers were complicit in helping smugglers use ‘panya routes’ to deliver their cargo.
“This alcohol is ruining many families. In some homes, drunk men can't even climb into their beds—they sleep under them,” he said, drawing murmurs from the crowd.
He warned that some of the alcohol being consumed was so dangerous it left users unconscious for days, calling it a ticking time bomb that could wipe out a generation.
“If we don’t act now, we are watching our future waste away. Drunk youth can no longer engage in any productive activity,” he said.
Farouk also condemned leaders who exploit vulnerable youth by using them as political goons, only for them to later become part of criminal gangs due to idleness and addiction.
“Today they are goons at rallies. Tomorrow they form criminal gangs because they have nothing else to do.”
He urged security agencies and local leaders to rise above complicity and guide the youth toward education, discipline and economic empowerment.
In response, county commissioner Edison Nyale confirmed that a crackdown on illicit alcohol was ongoing and promised that those behind the trade would face legal consequences.
Instant Analysis
The concerns raised by Farouk Kibet highlight a deepening public health and security crisis in Uasin Gishu, where illicit alcohol and drug abuse are derailing youth potential and undermining social stability. His sharp criticism of police complicity exposes a failure in enforcement that demands urgent institutional accountability. With schools losing students to addiction and communities watching loved ones deteriorate, this is no longer just a law enforcement issue—it’s a generational emergency. The call for decisive action, especially against corrupt officers and enabling leaders, signals the need for coordinated intervention to reclaim the county’s future from the grip of addiction.
