Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary (CS) Prof. Kithure Kindiki has directed his officers to raid all dens manufacturing unlicensed and killer brews in the country.
Speaking at Miharati in Kipipiri after opening a new office of the Deputy County Commissioner, Kindiki said drug peddlers and brewers of second-generation alcoholic drinks will be treated the same way as terrorists and bandits killing people in Rift Valley and other parts of the country.
He said Regional Commissioners, County Commissioners and Deputy County Commissioners, particularly those working in Central region, will be given set targets to achieve in improving security and fighting illicit brews.
“The National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) will have specific crime-reduction goals set for them as a long-term strategy to improve the productivity of their tasks in security management. The targets will be cascaded to chiefs and assistant chiefs under the hierarchy of accountability for reporting up to the level of the Regional Commissioners.
“We have intensified the war against illicit brews and drug abuse. The problem of drugs in the central region threatens to wipe out a generation in the future. There is no difference between terrorists and those using drugs to destroy the youth generation,” said Kindiki.
The CS said that he would not receive calls from those purporting to be friends who want him to keep his officers off from raiding their illicit brew businesses.
Nyandarua Governor, Dr. Kiarie Badilisha, had earlier led in protesting against insecurity in the area which he attributed majorly to substance and drug abuse.
“Githabai Assistant County Commissioner has no chief but has two assistant chiefs. We are appealing to the CS for the creation of administrative boundaries. These boundaries need to be regularized for efficient delivery of security services,” said Badilisha.
Local leaders also present led by Kipipiri Member of Parliament Wanjiku Muhia and Woman Representative Faith Gitau had also protested over the high crime rates in Nyandarua in the recent past.
The politicians attributed the crime rates to a lack of enough police vehicles and a lack of clear demarcation of boundaries. This, they said made it impossible for chiefs and the police to know their areas of jurisdiction.
Muhia asked for increased police cars and better facilitation for chiefs including promotions based on merit. She also noted newly created Sub-counties with DCCs posted but with no offices.
Gitau, on the other hand, said the county lacks police patrol cars, leading to an increased rate of crime. She also complained about administrative units and some Assistant Commissioners with more than ten chiefs.
Women Rep lobbied for more relief food to be allocated for the county, which the CS said should not be an issue upon some formal arrangements with Nyandarua leaders on distribution.
“The drought situation is at its worst in Nyandarua, but there is a perception that Nyandarua is a food basket but that has changed with climate change. We appeal for food donations for starving families. We also appeal to your office to intervene and have the dried lake Olbolosat revived to create jobs and business opportunities,” said Gitau.
The CS was accompanied by the Secretary of National Administration Beverly Opwora, Secretary for Internal Security Wilson Njega and other regional security heads.
By Antony Mwangi
