Senior Economic Advisor Moses Kuria is not happy with the current focus on illicit alcohol.
In a statement shared via his X account on Monday, December 23, 2024, Kuria urged the government to expand its crackdown efforts to include illicit milk and water instead of singling out one beverage.
“We also need to fight illicit water and illicit milk. Why discriminate against one beverage?” he wrote.
His statement comes in the wake of the ongoing government efforts to combat the consumption of illicit brews.
3 dead
On Sunday, December 23, 2024, three people tragically lost their lives after consuming illicit alcohol in Nakuru County.
In response to the deaths, Principal Secretary for the State Department of Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni urged the public to avoid unregistered and unlicensed alcoholic drinks, warning of the serious health risks these products pose.
She highlighted the ongoing efforts by the government to clamp down on the illicit alcohol trade and protect citizens from the harmful effects of these substances.
“The State Department of Public Health and Professional Standards, Ministry of Health is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of three lives in Nakuru County following the consumption of illicit alcohol. This heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder of the grave dangers associated with consuming unregulated and unlicensed alcoholic beverages,” PS Muthoni stated.
Adding;
“Consuming these substances can lead to serious health consequences, including blindness, organ damage, and even death. We urge the public to exercise extreme caution and prioritize their safety by: I. Only consuming alcohol that is legally registered and licensed by government agencies. This ensures that the alcohol has undergone proper quality control and meets safety standards. II. Avoiding purchasing alcohol from unknown or untrustworthy sources,” the statement read in part.
The PS further emphasized the importance of responsible alcohol consumption during the festive season and highlighted ongoing public awareness campaigns aimed at educating people on the dangers of drugs, illicit substances, and emerging tobacco products.
Gov’t on illicit brew
Earlier, the Principal Secretary for the State Department of Internal Security and National Administration, Raymond Omollo, dismissed claims made by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that the government was facilitating alcoholism in the Mt. Kenya region.
Gachagua had accused the government of reversing his efforts to combat illicit brews in the area, stating that the President had instructed the reopening of alcohol factories producing substandard alcohol, which was then sold exclusively in Mt. Kenya.
Omollo condemned Gachagua’s statements as politically motivated and inflammatory, emphasizing that the government does not produce or distribute alcoholic drinks.
He criticized Gachagua for trivializing the tragic deaths of three Kenyans from consuming illicit alcohol in Nakuru, highlighting the government’s efforts to combat illicit alcohol through a 25-point enforcement program initiated in March 2024.
“Only this weekend we had the unfortunate tragic loss of lives of three Kenyans in Nakuru following the consumption of illicit alcohol and their families are in mourning. We take great exception that such grave national matters can be trivialized by one individual, on a church podium nonetheless, without empathy for the families that may be struggling with this crisis,” Omollo stated.
Omollo stated that government officials, including chiefs, were actively involved in fighting illicit alcohol and that accusations against them were baseless.
“In every corner of this country the government officials involved in the fight against illicit alcohol include chiefs and their assistants who are part of their communities and it’s inconceivable that they would preside over what Mr. Gachagua accuses them of,” he added.
He further accused Gachagua of bad faith and insincerity, pointing out that he had previously served in the government. Omollo encouraged Gachagua to present any evidence to the relevant authorities if his intentions were truly to protect Kenyans from illicit alcohol.
