Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Friday took a swipe at Chief Justice Martha Koome days after 13 people died in Kirinyaga for consuming expired alcohol.
Speaking in Kirinyaga County, Gachagua faulted the courts for allowing the release of the prime suspect behind the killer brew.
“I want to appeal to Chief Justice Martha Koome. You are part of the Mt Kenya community, how come you allow people to continue selling poisonous alcohol to our children,” Gachagua stated.
“I want to ask Lady Chief Justice Martha Koome and the judges, now that you released the suspect behind the killer brew 15 times, and now that people have died, what will you tell the people.”
According to Gachagua, the suspect had allegedly been arrested in court 15 times, but each time he was arraigned, the courts released him.
The DP further urged the courts to be patriotic especially when making rulings that they know will affect the public.
Gachagua further claimed that despite efforts by Kirinyaga County Governor Anne Waiguru to tame the trade of illicit alcohol in the region, her efforts were watered down by the courts.
“I want to urge our judges to be patriotic and reasonable. How do you apply the law to the detriment of the people that you serve?"
“Governor Waiguru has tried curbing alcohol menace but her efforts have been watered down by rogue officers and people at the court.”
The DP, therefore, called on the local artists to use their talent to raise awareness and help get rid of the menace lest it wipes out the entire community.
“I am telling you, and I want to speak when I am in Kirinyaga, had the president and I not made a conscious decision to fight illicit brew in this region, in another ten years the entire of our population in this region will have been wiped out," Gachagua noted.
The DP while issuing the last warning to all chiefs within Kirinyaga County, vowed to convene a meeting with all local authorities to address the matter.
