Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs, and security agents who will condone the brewing, sale and consumption of illicit brews in Kericho County will be sacked with immediate effect, Kericho County Commissioner Michael Lesimam has said.
The CC who was addressing this year’s 60th Madaraka day celebrations held at Litein High School in Kericho was concerned that there was no way brewing of illicit liquor was going on within the radius of half a kilometer from a chief’s camp or a police station without the knowledge of the government officers.
Lesimam said the vice will no longer be condoned and those responsible in ensuring that brewing and consumption was put to an end, will not only lose their jobs but also dealt with in accordance with the law.
“I am very serious about eradication of the vice in Kericho and for the first time in history during my tenure, officers responsible will go home,” said Lesimam.
The County Commissioner also assured the Multinational Tea Estate companies that the government had enhanced security within the farms to avert lawlessness as witnessed recently when irate protestors torched tea plucking machines belonging to Ekaterra Tea Company.
The CC said that the Tea Estates lost an estimated sh.150 million when protestors destroyed the tea company’s property including mechanized tea harvesting machines and other property.
He said there is proven evidence that the locals were incited into violence and lawlessness witnessed during the attack and that those responsible in the heinous act including perpetrators will be brought to book.
“Let’s respect our local investors and live peacefully with them since they contribute significantly to the growth of the economy through export of tea and also through social corporate responsibility where they are participating in building of schools for the local community and also sponsoring bright students from humble backgrounds,” said the County Commissioner.
Kericho Governor Dr Erick Mutai speaking at same ceremony urged the residents of Kericho to desist from invading the Multinational Tea farms to illegally pluck the tea or destroy property in the farms since the act was criminal adding that those found culpable will be arrested and prosecuted.
Mutai said though they are awaiting the final resolutions of a taskforce formed to look into the contentious tea issue, the residents of Kericho have no right to trespass private investor’ property.
The governor directed the Kericho County Commissioner to act on suspected people behind the growing incidents of strikes in schools where students of Litein High school, Cheborgei High school and Cheptenye High School, went on rampage and destroyed property in schools.
On development in the County, the Governor said that is government had prioritized on education of needy students from poor backgrounds by offering scholarships, provision of water especially in Bureti and other Sub-Counties and also the building of new roads.
The governor also revealed that the Oncology Treatment Facility was on course and was expected to be commissioned before the year ends in order to serve cancer patients from the region.
By Dominic Cheres and Kibe Mburu
