By Magdalene Mukami
NAIROBI, Kenya
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has declared war on illegally-brewed alcohol, revoking the licenses of many of the nation’s bars and destroying their stocks of the illicit beverages.
Speaking recently at State House in Nairobi, Kenyatta described the owners of such establishments as “merchants of death”.
He also ordered parliamentarians to crack down on such establishments in their respective constituencies.
“Every MP should meet with their county (police) commander and come up with a strategic plan on how they will go door to door to bring the illicit trade to an end,” he asserted.
In May, more than 60 Kenyans died after drinking illicitly-brewed alcohol, with most of those who survived subsequently losing their eyesight.
And last month, seven more people died after drinking illicitly-brewed alcohol in Kenya’s Central Province, while more than 20 others were admitted to hospital.
“No one has a license to kill a fellow Kenyan,” Kenyatta declared. “Even if they have a (liquor) license, it is your business as the county commissioner to say that the license is revoked and the business is closed.”
He went on to vow that government officials who failed to comply with the order would face immediate dismissal.
In a more conciliatory tone, however, Kenyatta stressed that his government was ready to help rehabilitate citizens addicted to illicit brews.
According to Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior Joseph Nkaissery, at least 14,000 young people aged 21 and below die each year from consuming illegally-brewed alcohol.
“We will win this war (on illicit brew). Let us redeem the young generation,” said Nkaissery. “The program (the anti-alcohol drive) is a directive from the president that will not be reversed.”
The cabinet secretary lamented the fact that alcohol-related deaths in Kenya among young people were common, although, he stressed, they could be prevented with the right enforcement.
Raids
Last Friday, a four-day police campaign against illegal brews kicked off in Nairobi and Central Kenya, both of which are said to be centers of illegal alcohol manufacture.
Since then, police have carried out raids on known liquor dens.
Following a crackdown in Nairobi and its environs, thousands of liters of illicit brew were spilled on the street, leaving roads strewn with glass from smashed liquor bottles.
Annabel Wanjiku, a resident of the densely populated Kayole estate on the capital’s outskirts, said the campaign was long overdue.
“What they are doing will help our young people and husbands, who rarely come back home after drinking in bars,” Wanjiku told Anadolu Agency.
“They should have done this years ago. We’ve lost so many people due to illicit brews. So many cases have left people blind -- or even dead,” she added.
Emmanuel Juma, a cook at a Kayole restaurant, however, disagreed.
“They’re destroying alcohol that costs thousands of shillings (per bottle),” he said. “I’ve seen them destroy some brands that cost around 1,500 Kenya shillings (roughly $15). This will hurt Kenya’s economy.”
“Instead”, he added, “they should have confiscated it to check whether or not it was safe for public consumption.”
And during raids carried out in central Kenya, police shot and killed at least one person, while an old alcohol distillery was razed to the ground in ambiguous circumstances.
