DP RIGATHI GACHAGUA IN COLLABORATION WITH CS INTERIOR LAUNCHES WAR ON ILLICIT BREWS, DRUGS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

BY VICTORIA MOVINE

The Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua has joined forces with the ministry of Interior and national administration yesterday to launch war on illicit brews, drugs and substances abuse at the DP's official residence Caren, Nairobi. 

The DP opened the meeting officially as he addressed the matter of illicit brews, drugs and substance abuse saying that the government together with the ministry of Internal security has taken actions that will eradicate illicit brews, drugs and substance abuse.

DP Rigathi Gachagua addressing the media during the announcement of government's action on illicit brews drugs and substance abuse.

He addressed the kirinyaga incident where 23 people died and other went blind after taking poison packaged as alcohol saying that illicit brews, drugs and substance abuse have become a threat to the national security.

He also stayed that police officers who fail to do their duties will bot be transfered to other counties. However, he acknowledged that 90% of officers are committed in their work and also congratulated the CS interior Kithure Kindiki for controlling cases of carjacking, robbery with violence and crime at large.

According to CS interior Kithure Kindiki, the loss of more that 20 people in Kirinyaga, has made illicit brews, drugs and substance abuse to be among five key national security threats. “The trade, consumption, and abuse of illicit alcohol, narcotics drugs and psychotropic substances now ranks as one of the five key national security threats, that include terrorism, banditry and livestock rustling, cultural, religious and political extremism, and climate change." He said.

CS Interior and national administration Kithure Kindiki addressing the media during the announcement of government's action on illicit brews, drugs and substance abuse.

Considering that, Kindiki announced measures that the government adopted for national security and management of the scourge. The include: 

1. All licenses and certification permits for second generation alcohol and alcoholic beverage distillers and manufacturers, issued by Kenya Revenue Authority and Kenya Bureau of Standards stand suspended with immediate effect. All existing valid licenses will be vetted afresh within twenty-one days (21) days of this directive, with premises approved to resume operations only upon receipt of fresh approval.

2. Fresh license applications shall require manufacturers to have Quality Control (QC) laboratories installed with Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detector (FID), and this MUST be operated by competent laboratory analyst to test incoming raw materials and finished products before releasing to the market. The laboratories should register with a provider of inter laboratory comparison and submit their QC results to the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) on monthly basis.

3. All alcohol manufacturers shall henceforth establish and document all traders in their distribution chain and have procedures for ensuring full traceability from factory to the consumer of alcoholic products manufactured for sale. All alcoholic products shall include traceability information including manufacturer details, location, ingredients/content.⁠

4. The Kenya Bureau of Standards shall ensure that within 45 days, all industrial ethanol is denatured or marked with a denaturing agent (denatonium benzoate) to prevent diversion and/or the accidental use of industrial ethanol in alcohol manufacture.

5.Surveillance at the border points will be undertaken through a multi-agency framework with key actors including KEBS, Immigration, KRA, NPS and ACA.

6. All enforcement agencies shall undertake integrity vetting of all officers manning border points, highways and regional offices. Only officers of integrity and good standing will be appointed to conduct surveillance at the border points and highways especially Namanga and Isebania, Moyale and Isiolo.

7. No bars or alcoholic outlets shall be allowed to operate beyond the stipulated operation hours as provided in section 34 of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, failure to which the operator shall be fined or imprisoned as provided by law and all the drinks, and related accessories in the premises forfeited with accompanying license withdrawal.

8. To enforce compliance on package according to the Alcoholics Drinks Control Act, the Kenya Bureau of Standards shall within 60 days, review the guidelines on minimum quantity of alcoholic drinks to enhance the same from 250ml to 750ml or higher and other more measures that Kindiki announced.

Kindiki urged the community and neighborhood committees, and members of the public to support the initiative through the designated toll free line: 1192 where officers will be available to receive any complaints and concerns relating to the manufacture, trade, transportation, storage and consumption of illegal alcohol, drugs and other substances.