Nyeri:The government plans to introduce a data management system to enhance public awareness of its development programs and monitor the spread of illicit brews in Nyeri County.
According to Kenya News Agency, this decision follows a three-day training workshop at the White Rhino Hotel, which gathered nearly 400 National Government Administration Officers from across the county. The workshop, facilitated by the State Department for Economic Planning and the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, aimed to equip officers with skills for grassroots data management under the first phase of the Training on Grassroots Data Management for Evidence-Based Planning program.
Nyeri County Commissioner Joseph Biwott stated that the officers are expected to apply the newly acquired skills in their stations, aligning with the Government’s Bottom-Up Transformation Agenda. The training covered various topics, including national planning architecture, legal frameworks, community data systems, data quality assurance, and digital data management systems.
Biwott highlighted that the new system would help administrators map trends in the production and distribution of illicit brews, thereby strengthening efforts to combat the issue. He noted that previously, a lack of reliable data had hindered efforts to address the trade in illicit alcohol.
The officers received training to use the system for data collection on bar outlets in their areas, including monitoring operating hours and compliance with stipulated times. Biwott warned against collusion with traders involved in illicit alcohol activities, stating that those found guilty risk losing their jobs.
The government is employing a multi-agency approach, involving the National Police Service, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Kenya Bureau of Standards, the Government Chemist, the Kenya Revenue Authority, and the Judiciary, which has led to a reduction in illicit alcohol consumption in the county. This collaboration has also resulted in arrests of key figures in the counterfeit alcohol trade.
Additionally, the government is working with licensed manufacturers to identify and apprehend individuals manufacturing counterfeit products using established beer brands. Biwott urged manufacturers to cooperate with the government to eradicate the menace entirely.
