Inspector General Japhet Koome now wants counties stripped of the role of liquor licensing.
Speaking during the Illicit Alcohol And Drug Eradication Conference in Mombasa on Monday, Koome said that the licensing of alcohol outlets should be regarded as a security issue because people are dying.
He requested Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who presided over the conference to have the licensing reverted to the police like it was previously.
"Your Excellency, I will request that maybe the law be changed regarding the licensing of alcohol outlets to return to the way it was in the past," the Inspector General said.
Koome claimed that governors have politicised the licensing of the outlets saying all they look at is votes and revenues for their devolved units.
He said that while at it, they forget the security aspect of it.
"Governors here will hate me but you know that the IG of this country is not a populist contest. I don't need to be popular. This matter of governors licensing alcohol matters is a security concern. Our people are dying. When the governor is there, to tell the truth, he looks at the votes and revenue. The security aspect is being forgotten."
His remarks come against the backdrop of a heightened fight against drug and alcohol abuse across the country.
DP Gachagua has been at the forefront of championing the fight to curb illicit brews and drug abuse in the nation which he has said is eroding the gains the nation has made, in moulding a better society for the nation's posterity.
The fight started with the Mt Kenya region where Gachagua hails from and is now being rolled out across the country.
On Saturday, the DP said the government will implement stringent measures to wipe out illicit brew and narcotics from next week.
Firing a warning to those involved in the processing and selling of illicit brew, he said it would not be business as usual promising a tougher response to effectively deal with the vice.
He said the Ruto Administration is working on tougher interventions that will wholly be implemented collectively by respective government agencies.
"I held a meeting this week with top Government officials and senior security officers and we have agreed on these measures which will be rolled out from next week," he said.
"We are determined to make our country safe from these killer drinks. We will make sure the manufacturers of these drinks will leave this country for good. We cannot allow Kenyans to be sold poison in the guise of alcoholic drinks," he added.
