• He said there was no pride in being a leader of a drunken population that is not able to provide for themselves, their families and children.
• "I would like to lead sober and dignified people, people who are prosperous, smart, work hard and take care of themselves and their families"
Image: DPCS
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has pledged support for tougher laws to curb the manufacture, distribution and sale of illicit brew.
He said he is ready to pay any political price for pushing for stringent measures to save the youth from destruction.
The Deputy President said on Tuesday there was no pride in being a leader of a drunken population that is not able to provide for themselves, their families and children.
Gachagua spoke when he hosted Nyandarua MCAs at his official residence in Karen, Nairobi.
The DP thanked them for passing the Nyandarua County Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill, 2023, to end sale of poisonous brew.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Tuesday lauded the Nyandarua County Assembly as the first to enact a law that regulates the production, sale, and consumption of alcohol in a bid to fight illicit brews.
The Bill was signed into law by Governor Kiarie Badilisha, making Nyandarua the first to adopt a more stringent law to back the war on illicit alcoholic drinks, drugs and substance abuse spearheaded by the DP.
“We will not relent in this war. Many people have tried to dissuade me from it, but we will not," Gachagua said.
"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.”
The DP said it would be pointless to lead people controlled by alcohol, who are unable to fend for themselves.
“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, work hard and take care of themselves and their families,” Gachagua said.
The law establishes the County Alcoholic Drinks Regulation and Management Committee to streamline the issuance of licenses for the manufacture, distribution and sale of any alcoholic drink in the county.
The Act also establishes the Subcounty Alcoholic Drinks Regulation Committee to be in charge of issuance of licenses in the subcounties.
The law also prohibits transportation of alcoholic drinks between 6pm and 8am.
It also prohibits sale of adulterated alcoholic drinks and imposes Sh10 million fine or 10 years in jail for anyone found guilty of violating the section.
Distribution of adulterated drinks will attract a fine of Sh2 million or two years in prison.
The law also makes it illegal to promote alcoholic drinks in any event attended by persons under 18. Violation attracts Sh500,000 fine or three years in jail.
“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,” Gachagua said.
Nyandarua speaker Wachira Waiganjo said alcoholism is a big problem that demands absolute focus and determination to wipe it out.
“We are proud as a county assembly to be the first to pass this law. Our focus has been on making a contribution to the development of Nyandarua through relevant and productive Bills,” he said.
Majority leader Mwangi Nyaga said they are also working with the Spouse of the Deputy President, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, in rehabilitating 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.
Gachagua also warned against premature succession politics in Mt Kenya region.
He said it is the wrong time to engage in political positions, yet people are expecting nothing but services.
“Let us not be transfixed by 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,"the DP said.
"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.”