Kirinyaga: State House Head of Special Projects and Programmes Dennis Itumbi has declared a full-scale war against illicit brews in Kirinyaga County, saying the fight is aimed at saving a generation of young people increasingly being destroyed by alcohol and substance abuse.
According to Kenya News Agency, Itumbi announced the crackdown would be carried out under the Kirinyaga We Want initiative. This move follows concerns raised by residents during ongoing consultations on the county’s future. He emphasized that the initiative is not just about shaping a vision for Kirinyaga but also safeguarding the generation that stands to benefit from it.
‘The Kirinyaga We Want is not only about the vision we want to write; it is also about the generation that will benefit from what we write. We are therefore declaring today that The Kirinyaga We Want is going to engage in a full-blown war against illicit brew in Kirinyaga,’ said Itumbi.
He specifically pointed out illicit brews commonly known as Kathuri-ng’ui and Mogondora, warning that those involved in their production and sale would face a coordinated crackdown. ‘Those two illicit brews, along with others, are about to face the full wrath of the Kirinyaga people. We cannot allow businesses to continue profiting because that is no longer profit; it is poison. You cannot sell poison and claim it is benefiting you with a profit,’ he said.
Itumbi stated that the initiative would involve religious leaders, National Government Administrative officers, local leaders, and relevant government agencies to formulate a comprehensive strategy against illicit alcohol. He plans to begin consultations with female clergy before meeting the broader interdenominational clergy in Kirinyaga and then engage the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) team.
‘The fight will not just be physical. It will involve spiritual guidance and medical intervention, providing a 360-degree approach. Addiction is a disease, and we must ensure affected individuals receive proper treatment and rehabilitation,’ he said.
Itumbi stressed that enforcement alone would not address the issue, indicating that the strategy would combine physical crackdowns with rehabilitation, mentorship, and community involvement. ‘There needs to be a physical crackdown, but we will also have measures to deal with rehabilitation and mentorship, and we are going to engage in that comprehensive approach,’ he said.
He also warned those using money and alleged bribery to evade law enforcement and continue selling illicit alcohol that they would no longer be tolerated. ‘To those who think they can bribe their way through or pay off officials to continue selling poison, your era of giving money to push poison to our people has come to an end,’ he said.
Itumbi concluded by stating that the next two weeks would focus on consultations and developing a strategy to tackle illicit brews village by village. ‘We cannot gather views to build Kirinyaga while our people are intoxicated. We need a sober generation so that we can engage in dialogue and build The Kirinyaga We Want together,’ he said.
