NDEGWA: Deal with root cause of alcoholism, respect enterprise

There’s no doubt that alcoholism is a huge health and social problem for the addict, immediate family and society at large. That’s why the manufacture, distribution and sale of alcoholic drinks is regulated by a code of legal regime, which should be properly supervised by the relevant authorities to ensure strict compliance.

The laws and regulations are supposed to ensure adherence to a set of safety standards in terms of quality and quantity, licensing of distributors and bars in relation to location of the business, opening and closing hours and prohibition of sale of alcohol to persons below 18 years.

The problem of alcoholism in Kenya, and specifically Central Kenya, can be attributed to biting youth unemployment and hopelessness. Young people take refuge from harsh economic realities in cheap liquor, including local brews.

Over the years,  politicians from Central Kenya have been making tyrannical declarations and issuing executive fiat with no legal backing purporting to ban alcohol or trying to criminalise legitimate beer trade.

Currently, the harassment of business owners in the Mt Kenya region, especially Murang’a and Kirinyaga counties, borders on persecution. Legitimate bar owners are treated like common thugs, operating under constant threats from county authorities while paying daily ransom to the police. 

After a sober observation, one will appreciate that the alcohol sector is also a source of livelihood for more people than any other sector when you factor in business owners and employees.

Weaponisation of beer has become the easiest tactic to explain away leadership’s inability to create job opportunities, grow the economy or deliver on development. Threatening to close bars is not a solution. It’s irrational, dictatorial and pointless administration of punishment to legitimate investors.

You cannot create a problem as a pretence to solve another problem. When you frustrate licensed and supervised trade, underground business and local brew intake will be inevitable.

Kenya is not a theocracy to be ruled through Protestant doctrinal edicts. We are a secular state governed by the rule of law. There’s an insidious scheme that has been hatched between some senior government leaders and some evangelicals.

The plan is to have preachers rent or build churches and/or private kindergartens next to bars, then seek cancellation of beer licences and closure of bars on the basis of the bars’ close proximity to a church or school.

This is absolute nonsense, which cannot be allowed to happen under the 2010 constitutional order. The question of political economy cannot be answered through the fake rhetoric of prosperity gospel.

If the Mt Kenya leadership is genuinely committed to alleviation of alcoholism, give the youth something to do. Promote education through bursaries and scholarships, and promote SMEs.

Come up with a regional transformation plan as opposed to diversionary erratic outbursts. Deal with the problem, not the symptoms. Kenyans can see through the opportunistic shenanigans.