Bars and liquor shops risk having their licenses revoked should they continue selling blacklisted alcohol.
Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago expressed concern that liquor from a neighbouring country had infiltrated the county to the village level, causing alcohol-related deaths, ill-health and turning youth in their prime into a dependent culture.
Mandago vowed that the county government will spearhead the fight against illicit alcohol, more so those from a neighbouring state.
The Governor said it was disconcerting that the youth, who are supposed to be in the working-age group, are fast drowning in alcoholism and abdicating their roles in society.
Mandago said his government in collaboration with the National Government Security Agencies will work to rid the society of alcohol from a neighbouring country, whose contents are questionable and is reported to cause alcohol-related deaths.
Research indicates that out of Kenya’s population of 42 million, 13.6% consume alcohol, 5.8% abuse alcohol, and 5.5% are dependent on alcohol, majority of those dependent sadly being within the youth bracket.
In the past several years, Kenyans have died after drinking illicitly-brewed alcohol, with most of those who survived subsequently losing their eyesight.
The Governor regretted that alcohol-related deaths in Kenya, among young people had become common, stressing that there was a need to enforce the laws against illicit brews to make the society sober.
“Collaborative efforts will help us win this fight. We need to save the young people we have through mentorship and parental engagement among other measures,” said Mandago.
Karuna/Meibeki MCA, Josphat Lowoi, said engaging the youth in meaningful activities was one way that will help curb idleness and stem out alcoholism.
He also called for improved parental guidance, spiritual sensitization among other measures to curb the menace.
By Kiptanui Cherono
