Machakos County Commissioner Josephine Ouko has banned disco matanga and night prayers popularly known as ‘keshas’ across the county with immediate effect.
Ouko said the night vigils were a security threat and breeding grounds for social ills like sexual immorality and drug and substance abuse especially among the young people.
She directed chiefs and assistant chiefs to crackdown on such activities in their areas of jurisdiction.
“Residents have raised complaints on keshas and disco matangas and the devastating effects they have had on young people, going forward such activities remain banned and keshas will only be done in churches under the supervision of religious leaders,” said the county commissioner.
She spoke at Kitwii Boys Primary School grounds in Kangundo subcounty during the Madaraka day celebrations.
The administrator disclosed that the security team had conducted 2,606 raids across the county since the presidential directive on alcoholism and substance abuse crackdown on March 6 and destroyed 20,000 litres of illicit brew including Kangara,Changaa and Kaluvu.
“We also confiscated 12,500 litres of second-generation brew, 450 litres of ethanol 352 rolls,31 sticks,30 stones and 8 Kilograms and 25 plants of bhang in the crackdown,” said Ouko.
The county commissioner reiterated the government’s commitment on the war against alcohol and drug abuse.
She however expressed her concern that some unscrupulous bar owners whose premises were closed during the crackdown had colluded with some county government officials and re-issued with licenses unprocedurally.
Ouko issued a directive to have such bars closed and called on the county government to take action against the officers who issued the licences without approval from the County Liqour Licensing Committee.
“All bars flouting the law should be closed until they comply and especially for those operating near schools,” added the county commissioner.
On tree planting the Ouko said 3.2 million indigenous trees and 165,000 exotic trees had been planted in the county towards the government ‘s ambitious plan of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.
“1.5 million fruit trees have also been planted with an additional 700,000 trees of assorted varieties,” said the administrator.
She underscored the need to plant trees to combat climate change and prevent adverse weather conditions like floods experienced in the just ended rains.
On affordable housing the county commissioner said the national government has already completed 220 units in Machakos town and asked residents to apply for the houses.
“The government will also construct seven markets in Machakos to boost economic growth,” said the administrator.
By Roselyne Kavoo
