The Cabinet Secretary for Interior, Fred Matiangi has today September 9, warned law enforcement officers against getting tipsy while on duty.
Speaking at the Kenya School of Government, the CS announced that any officer found tipsy while at work will be fired with immediate effect.
The CS spoke while launching a 30-day initiative to eliminate substandard and counterfeit liquor from the Kenyan market.
“I want us to remove all these tipsy chiefs and assistant chiefs from the system. I really do not mind even if I have to sack 500 of them,” the CS mentioned.
Matiangi added that he is not going to tell officers what to do, for they should know better. He said he will happily send rogue officers away and get new ones if that is what it will take to help clear the substandard liquor from the market.
“How can you be telling people not to consume substandard and illicit liquor and you yourself do exactly the opposite? Does that even make sense?” Matiangi asked.
Matiangi also warned politicians not to use cheap and substandard liquor to buy votes. He noted that he will use all necessary force to completely wipe out illicit liquor from the Kenyan market.
The CS said he is aware of cases where officers take bribes and allow substandard liquor in the market, and that it is just a matter of time before they lose their jobs.
“I am not forcing you to live my life of not drinking, but I will not allow you to wobble around in an official uniform,” he warned.
Matiangi recounted an incident where the government stopped some liquor stores from operating, but the local leaders licenced the same just so they could collect revenue.
He also asked politicians who import fake and substandard liquor into the country to stop or face the consequences.
The CS is optimistic that the operation will be successful, adding that it couldn’t have come at a better time.
