Nyandarua County Commissioner Mohammed Barre has urged the church to use juice instead of wine while conducting the Holy Communion.
Barre, while addressing a group of religious leaders from the county on Saturday, disclosed that the wine commonly used by the church during the administering of Holy Communion triggered congregants to thirst for alcoholic drinks.
Juice would instead help curb the desires and subsequently reduce the surging number of alcoholics.
“With due respect for those who use it. The sacrament must be dipped in something which is not tea, which is wine. If you asked me, I would request the church to change that into juice," Barred advised.
He further lauded one bishop in the county for heeding his advice in the administration of the Holy Communion.
In his defence, the county commissioner argued that most churches in the United States have already substituted wine with juice, and the same can be adopted in Kenya.
Barre added that the church was widely regarded to be sacred and should set a positive example for congregants and guide them on how to refrain from the use of substance abuse.
“If the church is the heavenly place to go to heaven, if the church is the place we are looking upon to correct our boys, and in the church, there is a bit of wine, will you convince me wine is bad?” Barre questioned.
"If am the father of a boy, and I take a drink, my son will know that what the father does is a good thing," he added, offering an analogy of how easily one can be influenced by a person in a higher authority.
In April this year, Mohamed Barre who was initially stationed in Nyeri, was transferred to Nyandarua to replace Amos Mariba, who was transferred to Mandera County.
National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) are under pressure to curb alcoholism and substance abuse, in an operation led by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The DP, in past press conferences, warned that he would even go to the extent of firing chiefs who fail to adhere to his orders.
