Kindiki: We'd rather be unpopular than lose war against drugs

The government has assured Kenyans of its effort to curb illicit brew and drug menace in the country.

Through the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, he vowed to go against all means to ensure the fight was a success.

Speaking in Meru on Thursday, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki said the government is determined to lose its popularity if that is what it takes to win the battle against drugs.

"We have decided in this administration that we better lose popularity than lose this war," he said

"That is why you have seen it is only the President and his deputy who are active political people that are part of this because it is a law enforcement issue."

The Interior boss affirmed that the government would be very brutal and that many people would be arrested and many illegal outfits would be destroyed in the war against illicit brew and drug abuse.

As a result, he urged the Meru leaders to avoid mixing politics with the crackdown.

"Please stay away from this crackdown as it is not political but a security, law enforcement issue," Kindiki added.

He urged the leader to also depoliticise security agencies and trust them to do a better job for the sake of the county.

Going further, Kindiki mentioned that the government was just getting started in the war to curb the drug menace.

"Don't take the matter lightly. The drug and alcohol menace is a national security problem. If we don't correct this problem of drugs and poisonous drinks,10-20 years from now we won't have any generation to take over from us," Kindiki said

"We won't have MCAs, MPs, Senators, nurses, doctors as people would be zombies."

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.