Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Monday, February 26, scolded Coast leaders for failing to push for reforms even as drugs and alcohol abuse continue to ravage the region's youth population.
Speaking while launching the Coast Region Conference on Illicit Alcohol and Narcotic Drugs Abuse, the second in command highlighted that leaders across the region were silent despite the problem escalating.
He added that some of the leaders expected to champion reforms had chosen to skip the event whose goal is to find a solution to the menace. The DP, however, did not identify the said elected leaders.
Gachagua, as a result, accused the leaders of being complicit in the widespread sale of drugs.
"Why are leaders in Coast quiet as our young population is being destroyed by drugs? Why are some not here? This is a very important conference to discuss the very existence of our population in this region. This is a conversation that every elected leader should be a part of because it is a serious problem," he remarked.
"If you are afraid of drug barons, I am not afraid of them. If you keep quiet, how will we know where the problem is?"
The Deputy President further hinted that the Coast region had dragged the rest of the country in tackling the menace indicating that in Nandi, the elected leaders kept tabs on progress.
He further maintained that Kirinyaga leaders were vocal and pointed an accusatory finger toward the judicial system for arresting and releasing an accused seller of illicit brew.
"As you talk about the squatter problem, you should also discuss drug use with the same passion. We are ready to help you," he added.
Police Officer Firing
To tackle the menace uniformly, Gachagua revealed that President William Ruto had resolved to no longer transfer police officers accused of not delivering on their mandate.
The decision was reached after consultations with Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki and the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome.
"Our officers, the truth of the matter is that we are not doing well. We must accept. In Mombasa, Lamu and Kilifi, drugs are sold everywhere," he reiterated.
"The government will tighten things and we have agreed we are not going to transfer officers who have failed. Every county is part of Kenya, if you fail in Mombasa, what is the wisdom of taking you to another place? We will deal with failure like it should be dealt with."
Gachagua and his wife Dorcas Rigathi have been steadfast in the fight arguing that productive youth were losing their fruitful years to alcohol and addiction.
In the past month, illicit alcohol led to the death of 17 individuals in Kirinyaga County leading to a raft of directives including the closure of all clubs and bars for fresh licensing exercise.
