Murkomen hits out at church leaders over silence on new NACADA policies

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has criticised church leaders for remaining silent on the government’s push to tighten alcohol laws, accusing them of failing to defend the moral and health interests of the youth.

Speaking in Kajiado on Friday, Murkomen expressed concern that religious institutions have not publicly backed the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA)’s proposals to raise the legal drinking age to 21 and ban alcohol sales near schools and playgrounds.

“I’ve not heard any church leader stand up to support this policy. And yet they are the ones who preach about protecting the youth,” he said.

Murkomen said the church, often vocal on matters of morality, should be at the forefront in supporting efforts to protect young Kenyans from harmful exposure to alcohol.

The CS defended the proposed reforms, noting that the current environment—where alcohol is advertised during children's TV hours and sold near schools—undermines the moral and physical development of minors.

“We said alcohol should not be consumed at one, two or three o’clock when children are watching television and see people advertising alcohol,” he said.

“We said it should not be sold or consumed in places where children go to play or train.”

Murkomen also supported NACADA’s call to raise the legal drinking age from 18 to 21, questioning the ethics of targeting under-21s as a profitable market.

“If we take it to 21 years, is that wrong? Companies shamelessly say they’ll make less profit if alcohol is restricted to those over 21. Are we really okay making profits from 18-, 19-, and 20-year-olds?” he posed.

He rejected arguments that the regulations would hurt the economy, insisting that public health must come first.

“If we can justify selling alcohol near schools and advertising it during prime time when all children are watching, then we have a serious problem as a country,” Murkomen said.

He cited global examples like the United States, where enforcement of the legal drinking age is strict, and club access requires valid identification.

Murkomen maintained that the government is determined to implement the new policy, regardless of resistance from vested interests.

“We must regulate alcohol, even if it’s good alcohol, because our priority is protecting the people of Kenya,” he said.

The National Policy on the Prevention of Alcohol, Drugs and Substance Use (2025) outlines measures aimed at addressing the rising crisis of alcohol abuse in the country, particularly among youth.

These include banning the sale of alcohol near schools and religious institutions and introducing stricter rules on alcohol advertising.

Murkomen’s remarks underscore growing frustration within government ranks over muted support from institutions—especially the church—on a policy many see as critical to protecting the country’s future generation.