- Gachagua added that the area chief and assistant chief will be required to also explain why the incident happened.
- The DP asked the Judiciary to stop issuing orders barring the arrest and prosecution of rogue traders.
Image: DPCS
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said the government has recalled Kirinyaga's top security officers.
This is after more than ten people succumbed to deadly illicit brew and others went blind in Mwea constituency early this week.
Gachagua said that the County Commissioner, County Police Commander, County Director of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the County Administration Police Commander have been ordered to return to Nairobi to allow for investigations on who slept on the job.
Gachagua added that the area chief and assistant chief will be required to also explain why the incident happened.
The DP asked the Judiciary to stop issuing orders barring the arrest and prosecution of rogue traders who are taking shortcuts to get rich in selling illicit brews.
Gachagua said that the government will open an inquiry into the incident to determine the culpability of the officials.
"Those culpable will be sacked and prosecuted not transferred. Traders using shortcuts to enrich themselves through poisonous alcohol must know their days are numbered. We, however, have no problem with legitimate alcohol," he said.
The DP added that new security officers will be deployed in Kirinyaga to commence a crackdown on illicit brews immediately.
Gachagua was accompanied by over 20 leaders and business persons to commission the expanded Joy Millers Ltd processing plant.
He further stated that officers who have failed in their duties will not be moved to new working stations as that amounts to "transferring a problem".
Gachagua has been leading the war against illicit brews, drug and substance abuse across the country.
He has convened regional multi-stakeholder conferences in Nyeri, Chuka and Nakuru, with more others in the lineup.
He has also held targeted meetings with the relevant agencies.
The DP said he would convene another meeting with chiefs and their assistants over laxity in eradicating the menace in the Mt Kenya region.
"I will convene another meeting for chiefs and sub-chiefs and issue a last warning over the existence of illicit brews. The officers in Central are trying us (the President and the deputy)," he said.
"I sat with all County Commissioners, Police Commanders and DCIs, National Intelligence Service, Administration Police Commanders, Officers Commanding police stations and agreed that the illicit brews must be eradicated."
He added:
"Illicit brews are thriving because the officers are busy taking bribes. Had President William Ruto and I not intervened, the entire generation in this region would have been wiped out by poisonous alcohol in ten years."
"Chief Justice Martha Koome, how come all traders of illicit brews are getting orders to continue selling the poisonous brews? To the Judges and the Chief Justice, what will you tell Kenyans? Judges should be patriotic and reasonable. How can you apply the law to the detriment of the people," Gachagua said.
He noted that the businessman behind the killer brew in Mwea had been arrested several times by security agencies, but secured relief through court orders and continued to sell the alcohol.
He further urged police to work hard on the crackdown and shun bribes.
"We are going to increase the salaries of the police by 40 per cent, but I urge them to give back to society by doing the right thing," she said.