Kindiki issues ultimatum to security officers in fight against illicit alcohol

Security officers from the Central Kenya region have been given an ultimatum as the government embarks on the journey to curb illicit alcohol and drug abuse.

CS for Interior Kithure Kindiki on Friday told the officers that they have to choose if they want to collaborate with the government to end the war.

“Security officers can't enforce the directive to crack down on persons brewing and selling poisonous liquor if they are the owners of bars and outlets selling the same toxic substances," he said.

“That is a clear conflict of interest. You must make a choice; to be a bar owner or a security officer,” Kindiki stated.

Speaking from Kiambu, the CS emphasized that efforts to fight the vice will continue until the problem is completely dealt with.

“Make no mistake; the operation we have initiated to eradicate the menace of illicit alcohol and drug abuse is not a temporary measure. It will continue until this problem is completely dealt with,” Kindiki said.

The CS emphasized that there is no room for laxity from the officers spearheading the exercise and that it is a security operation.

“In the past, the war against manufacturing, trade and consumption of illicit liquor was frustrated by political interference. This time, we have made it clear that it is a security operation,” Kindiki added.

The Interior boss was speaking from Kiambu where he held an early morning consultative forum with Kiambu County Security and Intelligence Committee, on the commencement of the Nationwide Crackdown on manufacture, distribution, sale and consumption of illicit liquor, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

The manufacture, sale and consumption of illicit alcohol and narcotic drugs is a major national security threat that the Government will eradicate ruthlessly to protect and secure present and future generations.

As a result, Security managers countrywide have been directed to ensure strict enforcement of the policy and operational guidelines issued by the Government in eradication of poisonous and toxic substances.

The ultimatum comes barely two days after he announced 25 key measures that his ministry will implement in the coming days to tame the illicit alcohol and drugs in the country.