Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has promised that police officers across the country will receive a 40 per cent salary increase
Addressing a congregation in Kirinyaga, the DP urged law enforcement to give back to the community by providing good services.
"We are going to increase the salaries of the police by 40%, but I urge them to give back to society by doing the right thing," the Deputy President stated.
Gachagua further threatened to sack officers found colluding with wrongdoers such us illicit brewers, warning that they would be prosecuted as opposed to previous disciplinary punishments within the police force.
To wipe out the drug menace, the DP noted that new security officers will be deployed in Kirinyaga, to enhance a crackdown on illicit brews.
"Illicit brews are thriving because the officers are busy taking bribes. Had President William Ruto and I not intervened, the entire generation in this region would have been wiped out by poisonous alcohol in ten years,” he stated.
“Traders using shortcuts to enrich themselves through poisonous alcohol must know that their days are numbered. We, however, have no problem with legitimate alcohol," Gachagua stated.
Gachagua also noted that the Kirinyaga County Commissioner, County Police Commander, County Director of Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the County Administration Police Commander had been ordered to return to Nairobi to allow for investigations after 13 people died from consuming illicit brew.
Directing for the summoning of the area chief and assistant chief, Gachagua roped in the Judiciary, advising them to stop issuing orders barring the arrest and prosecution of rogue traders who are taking shortcuts to get rich in selling illicit brews.
"Chief Justice Martha Koome, how come all traders of illicit brews are getting orders to continue selling the poisonous brews? To the Judges and the Chief Justice, what will you tell Kenyans? Judges should be patriotic and reasonable. How can you apply the law to the detriment of the people," he remarked.
The Deputy President has been leading the war against illicit brews, and drug and substance abuse across the country since 2023, convening stakeholders in different regions and agencies.
On February 6, 13 people died after allegedly consuming expired alcohol dubbed "California" in Kangai Village, Mwea in Kirinyaga County.
Angry residents had later in the day taking matters into their own hands, burnt down the alcohol den which had sold the killer brew to the deceased residents.
