Kindiki to Meru leaders: Collaborate in fight against illicit brew, drugs

Meru leaders have been urged to support the government in the fight against illicit brew and substance abuse.

The Interior CS Kithure Kindiki was speaking on Thursday during a consultative forum with Meru county elected leaders where he availed them an opportunity to share their proposals for addressing the challenge.

"I call on the leaders here today to cooperate with security agencies in the crackdown on merchants of death who threaten the future of our nation through the manufacture and sale of poisonous alcoholic drinks and toxic drugs," he said.

Kindiki also took the opportunity to update the leaders on the nationwide operation announced by the government on Wednesday, to combat the manufacture, trade, consumption and abuse of illicit alcohol, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

Going further, the CS noted that insecurity around the Northern Grazing Fields in Meru North had remained a major concern and the Government takes the matter seriously.

To conclusively eradicate the livestock rustling menace, Kindiki affirmed that the government is onboarding the input of all stakeholders

The meeting was attended by Deputy Senate Speaker and Meru Senator Kathuri Murungi, Chairman of the Meru Parliamentary Caucus and Buuri MP Mugambi Rindikiri, Woman Representative Elizabeth Kailemia, MPs Rahim Dawood(North Imenti), Shadrack Mwiti (South Imenti), Mpuru Aburi (Tigania East) and  John Mutunga (Tigania West),

Others were John Paul Mwirigi (Igembe South), Dan Kiili (Igembe Central), Julius Taitumu (Igembe North) and Dorothy Muthoni (Nominated), Speaker Ayub Bundi and all elected and nominated MCAs from Meru County Assembly were present.

Last year, residents of Muguru village, Meru County protested the rise in illicit brew and bhang consumption in the area.

Residents led by village leaders lamented that the relevant authorities had been informed but no action was taken.

In a move to curb the menace, The government through the Ministry of Interior and National Administration on Wednesday announced 25 measures to curb illicit brew, drug, and substance abuse in the country.

This comes a few days after more than 20 people died from the consumption of alleged illicit alcohol in Kirinyaga County.

According to Kindiki, the use of illicit brew, drugs and substance abuse majorly among teenagers, the youth and even the elderly, is now not only a grave social concern but also a threat to the well-being and sustainable future of the country.