• Speaker Kingi urged the national government to view the coastal leaders as partners in the war against drugs
•Kingi noted that the biggest weakness towards eradicating the menace is at the enforcement level
Speaker of the Senate Amason Kingi has advocated for the arrest of drug barons in the coastal regions.
Speaking in Mombasa on Monday, Kingi questioned why the drug barons have not been arrested if they are well known.
The Senate Speaker revealed that to eradicate the drug menace at the coast, the enforcement method should be changed.
"There is nothing new we have been told today. Hii shida tunajua.But the biggest weakness that has been there towards eradicating the menace is at the enforcement level," Kingi said.
"If we know these drug dealers how come they have not been apprehended?" he posed.
He was speaking at the Illicit Alcohol And Drug Eradication Conference in Mombasa
The former Kilifi governor noted that it was unrealistic that people were being arraigned in court after being caught with a blunt of bhang, yet the people with the kilogrammes and tonnes are walking free.
"Today if you go to the courts you will see young men and women being arraigned because of one single blunt of marijuana while the guy who has kilos, and sacks is seated pretty somewhere because he is untouched," Kingi said.
"We are targeting the wrong category. If we can be able to make sure these products are no longer available in the market, then we will be saving our young people."
Speaker Kingi noted that it was high time that the government walked the talk and went for the 'big boys'.
"We need to go to the source. With our intelligence system we know who these drug barons are," he added.
While addressing Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Kingi on behalf of the leadership of the coastal region, pledged their support towards curbing the drug menace.
The Speaker made it clear that none of the leaders present in the forum has benefited from drug funds.
"We are behind these efforts, have no doubt. I can speak here without any fear or contradiction that none of us were elected using drug money pursuant using funds from drug dealers," Kingi said
In addition, the Speaker urged the national government to view the coastal leaders as partners in the war against drugs
"Whichever recommendation will be adopted from this conference have us as your partners in this war," Kingi said.
In the same forum, Gachagua took the drug abuse war to the coastal leaders, questioning their silence.
The DP revealed that the government was highly concerned by the coastal leaders who appear to have taken a back seat in the fight against illicit brew and drugs.
"There is a serious crisis in Mombasa and the leadership is quiet. At least I can attest that Nyali MP Mohamed Ali has been vocal about the issue…But other leaders are quiet."
"Why are leaders at the coast quiet as our young population is being killed and destroyed by drugs? Gachgaua posed.
The DP called on coastal leaders to speak more on the drug menace as it was the only way the government would know how to address the issue.
"We want to hear you more because you represent the people. Unless leaders are telling us there is no problem," Gachaguaa added.