In a move seen as a boost to National Government efforts against illicit brews, the County Assembly of Nandi is preparing to pass amended Alcoholic Drinks Act that intends to regulate the manufacturers, distributors, vendors and consumers of illicit brews within Nandi County.
According to the Nandi County Assembly Speaker Philemon Cheruiyot, the existing Act that is in operation is biased as it seems to focus so much on the vendors and consumers, but remains silent on producers and distributors of the lethal brews.
The speaker said that having an Act that deals with the entire chain of illicit brew will be fair to all parties. “It is a chain of distribution so we have to regulate from the manufacturers to the consumers,” he said.
Cheruiyot maintained that the vendors must be granted a fair hearing on matters relating to licensing adding: “We as the County Government have noticed some gaps in the Nandi County Alcoholic Drinks Acts where we don’t give the applicants the fair hearing in terms of prosecuting their appeals.”
He said as the County Assembly Speaker, he was aware that there is a committee preparing a legislative proposal to have the Act amended. “I am aware that there is a committee preparing the legislative to help fight the illicit brews within the County.
He reiterated that proposed legislation seeks to address existing Acts gaps so that in any case there are court summons they will be able to demonstrate that they have given the applicants fair hearing.
Cheruiyot, however, vowed that the Nandi County Government won’t be left behind in the fight against toxic illicit brews that has threatened the well-being of the next generations.
“This is an issue that we need to preserve and protect for the next generation and unless we are able to pass amendments then we won’t be making any progress as a county,” said Cheruiyot, when he talked to the press in Kapsabet town.
Nandi Governor Stephen Sang in a recent church function indicated that within two months they will be able to join counterparts in the counties of Nyandarua and Meru who already passed the Alcoholic Drinks Acts into law that comprehensively deals with the entire chain from manufacturers to consumers.
On her side, Nandi County Deputy Governor Dr. Yulita Mitei say that 1,196 illegal brewers identified across Nandi will be supported to embrace income generating activities accepted by the law.
Dr. Mitei believes that the right coordinated National Government and County Governments laws to control manufacture, distribution and consumption of illicit brews are urgent to manage illicit brew menace in the country.
By Geoffrey Satia
