State House Head of Creative Economy and Special Projects Dennis Itumbi has announced a 14-day strategy to intensify the fight against illicit and counterfeit alcohol in Kirinyaga County.
Itumbi said the campaign would target manufacturers, distributors, middlemen and retailers involved in the production and sale of illegal alcoholic drinks, with the aim of protecting communities from the effects of alcohol abuse.
He made the announcement in a post shared on social media, saying he had agreed on the strategy with Kirinyaga County Commissioner Shufaa Omar Mwijuma and the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).
“As Frantz Fanon once noted, ‘Each generation must, out of relative opacity, discover its mission, fulfill it, or betray it.’
I choose to fulfil it.”
Itumbi said the operation would bring together several government agencies and community groups, including the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Anti-Counterfeit Authority, Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), NACADA, security agencies, religious leaders, parents, young people and professionals.
He said the combined effort would focus on disrupting networks involved in the manufacture, distribution and sale of illicit and counterfeit alcohol across villages and towns in the county.
“The mission is simple. Disrupt the networks. Get illicit and counterfeit alcohol out of our villages and towns. Protect our people,” he said.
The State House official warned manufacturers, middlemen and retailers involved in the trade that enforcement would target the entire supply chain.
Itumbi also said the campaign would include support for people struggling with alcohol dependence. He noted that the county government had a plan to help consumers experiencing withdrawal symptoms access treatment and potentially transition into productive activities, including opportunities in agriculture and other sectors.
The initiative is being pursued under Itumbi’s broader “Kirinyaga We Want” programme, which has involved community consultations on the county’s development priorities.
Earlier in September, Itumbi declared a broader crackdown on illicit brews in Kirinyaga, saying the campaign would combine enforcement with rehabilitation, mentorship, medical intervention and community engagement.
“This is about our homes, our young people and our future,” Itumbi said.
