Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has issued a fresh warning to manufacturers and traders dealing in harmful alcoholic drinks, promising tougher inspections and arrests as the government intensifies its crackdown on illicit brews.
Speaking in Limuru, Kiambu County, on Friday, October 2, Kindiki said the government would not allow traders to endanger Kenyans by manufacturing or selling poisonous substances under the guise of alcohol.
“Your days are numbered. We will come for you. I assure you that we will not allow anyone to sell poisonous drinks in the name of alcohol to our people,” Kindiki warned.
The Deputy President said authorities would conduct fresh inspections of alcohol manufacturing premises to establish whether they comply with quality, safety and public health requirements before their products reach the market.
He specifically warned manufacturers operating outside the law, including those accused of mixing chemicals into alcoholic drinks for sale to unsuspecting consumers.
“Some do not even have premises. They just mix chemicals and sell to Kenyans. We are coming for you. We have fought Al Shabaab and bandits; we cannot be defeated by illicit alcohol traders,” he said.
Kindiki’s latest warning comes days after he held a multi-agency meeting with security, regulatory and enforcement agencies to strengthen the government’s response to illicit alcohol and substance abuse.
The renewed campaign has gained particular attention in Mt Kenya, where concerns over harmful brews have featured prominently in public discussions following reported deaths linked to suspected contaminated alcohol in parts of the region.
Kindiki has also linked the campaign to his emerging role as a unifying voice in Mt Kenya, saying elders from the region had asked him to take a leading role in the fight against illicit brews.
During the Limuru meeting, he said the government would pursue the campaign across the country while ensuring manufacturers comply with established standards.
His remarks came as he flagged off nine milk coolers destined for dairy cooperative societies in Kiambu, bringing together two issues affecting households in the region — agricultural livelihoods and the social impact of harmful alcohol.
The Deputy President said the government would continue supporting dairy farmers by investing in infrastructure that reduces milk wastage and improves farmers’ returns. The nine coolers are expected to serve cooperatives in different parts of Kiambu.
The Limuru visit therefore placed Kindiki at the intersection of the government’s development agenda and its renewed public health and security campaign, as he continues to expand his engagements across the Mt Kenya region.