• Gachagua says that he is willing to pay the political price to prevent illicit brews, which he claims may wipe out an entire generation.
• "We will not relent in this war. Many people have tried to dissuade me from it, but we will not," Gachagua said.
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.
Image: DPCS
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said he is ready to pay the ultimate political price if that is what it will take to rid the Mt Kenya region of illicit alcohol.
Speaking on Tuesday at his official Karen residence, the DP said the illicit alcohol risks wiping out the entire generation of youths.
The second in command vowed that the train has left the station in the battle against alcoholism saying there would be no turning back.
“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," he said.
"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.”
Gachagua also said there is no pride in leading a drunken population that is unproductive to the families and community.
“There is no need for one to lead a drunk population. There is no pride in being the Deputy President and everywhere I go, people are staggering and sleeping in ditches for being alcoholics," he said.
"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 made the remarks as he lauded the Nyandarua County government for embracing a law meant to combat the sale of illicit brews in the county.
Gachagua congratulated the legislators from the Nyandarua County Assembly for passing the Nyandarua County Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill, 2023.
The Bill was signed into law by Nyandarua Governor Kiarie Badilisha on January 19, 2024- two days after the County Assembly passed it.
Following Executive Order Nos. 1 and 2 of 2023, Nyandarua County is the first county to enact a more rigorous law to support the Deputy President's campaign against illicit alcohol, drugs, and substance abuse.
The legislation creates the County Alcoholic Drinks Regulation and Management Committee, whose job it is to expedite the granting of licenses fo the production, distribution, and sale of any kind of alcohol within the county.
In addition, the Act establishes the Sub-county Alcoholic Drinks Regulation Committee, which will supervise license issuance in the sub-counties.
It is now illegal to transport alcohol between the hours of 6 pm and 8 am in Nyandarua County following the signing of the bill into law.
Other counties working on a similar law include Muranga Nyeri, Kirinyaga, and Kiambu.
The deputy president further reiterated his support for the police in Nyandarua to follow up on the enforcement of the newly passed law.
The Majority Leader in the Nyandarua County Assembly, 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.
The Deputy President, at the same time, warned against premature succession politics in the Mt Kenya region and urged the legislators to focus on 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 and improved agricultural earnings, "Gachagua said.