Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has criticised Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen over his remarks on forbidding the sales of liquor in certain areas.
Speaking on Thursday, July 31, Gachagua accused Murkomen of doing very little to address the growing problem of illicit liquor and narcotics misuse in the country.
Gachagua's statement came after Murkomen, on July 30, launched the National Policy on the Prevention, Management, and Control of Alcohol, Drugs, and Substance Abuse 2025, which recommended raising the legal age to drink from 18 to 21 years and banning the sale of alcohol within residential premises and in supermarkets and restaurants, among others.
It had also recommended prohibiting the online sale of alcohol, as well as home deliveries of alcohol.
The proposed policy will forbid the sale and consumption of alcohol at public beaches, public parks, amusement parks, petrol stations, dining areas in members’ clubs, and hotels.
Gachagua, in a statement, said that during his time in office, he had introduced real measures that helped to reduce the problem.
“CS Interior, you are wasting your time and making fun of Kenyans. While I was in office, I worked hard for one year, and we managed to wipe out dangerous alcohol and bring back sanity to our people," Gachagua said.
Gachagua accused President William Ruto and his administration officials of sabotaging his initiatives of withdrawing budget support for rehabilitation programs and the reauthorisation of illicit alcohol manufacturers, which led to a resurgence of these issues.
While in office, Gachagua said that he introduced effective and real measures to eliminate alcohol and end the abuse of narcotics in the country.
He explained that the Kenya Revenue Authority recorded increased excise tax collections because more Kenyans were buying alcohol from licensed businesses.
Gachagua highlighted that young people returned home, started families, and got involved in productive activities.
He blamed President William Ruto, Murkomen, and Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo for reversing all of his progress. He alleged that the PS reopened illicit alcohol factories that had previously been shut down and pulled funding from rehabilitation programs that had helped thousands of youths.
"What do you intend to do differently from what has successfully been done? Walk around issuing pressers and threatening Kenyans? Mr. William Ruto wants zombies among our population to continue manipulating them with cash handouts for political control," he added.
