Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has directed the county governments to crackdown on illicit liquor, terming alcoholism a menace in the country.
Speaking in Murang’a on Thursday at the launch of the county’s bursary programme, the deputy president pointed out Mt. Kenya where he says consumption of illicit liquor has reached worrying levels and threatens to clear a generation of the youth.
“We shall not accept a situation where youths are being killed or become unproductive because of consumption of illicit alcohol,” Gachagua said.
The DP further directed the administrators to regulate the issuance of licenses for bars and pubs and join hands in a bid to contain the situation of consumption of illegal alcohol and substance abuse.
The country’s second in command urged the administrators to shun politics and heighten their efforts in containing the alcohol abuse menace adding that their work is to assist people and drive tree-planting programs.
At the same time, Gachagua announced the government’s plan to streamline and reform the tea, coffee, and dairy farming sectors.
“I have been instructed by the President to reform the tea, coffee, and dairy sectors,” he said.
He said he is determined to remove the brokers and cartels who have been oppressing the farmers in a bid to increase farmers’ income.
Gachagua was accompanied by various political leaders including Senator Joe Nyutu, and Woman Representative Betty Maina who pledged support for the Deputy President’s bid to eradicate drugs in the region.