MPs accuse police of fuelling rise in illicit alcohol trade

Lawmakers have accused the police of fuelling trade in illicit alcohol and counterfeit brands.

They now want Inspector General of Police, Japheth Koome, to appear before the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security to provide an update on the role of the police in combating illicit brews.

The demand comes hot on the heels of an incident in Kangai Village, Kirinyaga County where 23 people died after consuming illicit alcohol.

Seeking a statement from the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security, Kirinyaga County Woman Rep Njeri Maina regretted that there have been fatalities across the country as a result of the consumption of illicit alcohol.

“The most recent tragedy occurred in Kangai Village on February 6, 2024, where 23 lives were lost, and numerous others suffered severe consequences, including loss of vision, due to the consumption of suspected expired alcohol with a dangerously high ethanol content,” Maina emphasised.

She decried the rampant trade in illicit and adulterated liquor, the proliferation of counterfeit alcoholic brands, the mushrooming of unlicensed liquor outlets and a surge in underage drinking.

“Could the Cabinet Secretary explain measures the Government has put in place to ensure strict compliance with the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, 2010 and effective implementation of alcohol control policies in regions mostly affected by consumption of illicit brews? she posed.

Leader of the Majority Party Kimani Ichung’wah (Kikuyu) said Parliament should enact legislation that will establish consistent regulations and standards nationwide, ensuring effective alcohol licensing processes.

“The problem is not one that we can point at the county governments in terms of licensing of bars. It begins with law enforcement vide the police. Therefore, the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security being the one that oversees the police, must be emphatic in ensuring that his Committee summons the Inspector General of Police to say what they are going to do to ensure that the police do their work of enforcing the law as it is,” Ichung’wah said. 

Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo, who chairs the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security said time is ripe to tighten laws and policies on licensing, especially at the county level.

He said counties should revert some functions to the National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) for proper management and licensing of liquor stores.