West Pokot County Commissioner (CC) Abdullahi Khalif has warned public officers in the region against compromising national security matters with personal interests, noting that government directives must be adhered to.
Addressing joint security teams at Mtelo Hall in Kapenguria during the County Multi-Agency Security Team on Monday, Khalif directed that a list of all brewing dens be availed to the county security team for scrutiny and action in an intensive crackdown announced by the Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki.
“A list of all illicit brewing dens within your areas of jurisdiction should be documented. This is not an RRI but a continuous crackdown. We must eradicate illicit brews and drug abuse within our areas as the government has directed,” stated the CC.
He called for a multi-agency approach in the war against alcohol and drug abuse, noting that the success of the operations will depend on teamwork and consultations.
Khalif emphasized that the law enforcement agencies should do their due diligence to ensure no violations occur during the crackdowns, cautioning against taking advantage of the process to enrich themselves through soliciting for bribes.
“Some chiefs have been accused in some areas of soliciting bribes from bar owners by misquoting the directive. Make sure you familiarise with the directive so that the eradication of illicit brews and drug abuse becomes a success,” the CC reiterated.
He clarified that the mandate of the national government is law enforcement whereas licensing of bars and alcohol outlets lies with the county government, calling for a close partnership between the two levels of government for effectiveness.
At the same time, the CC commended Pokot South Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) for carrying out public participation forums regarding licensing of alcohol outlets where residents stood their ground that there would be no opening of such businesses within the sub county as it had been before.
“However, we hear that there are three bars within the sub county in operation although residents prohibited the existence of such in the area. Maybe we should start with such premises because information has it that they are operating illegally,” noted the CC.
Acknowledging that drug abuse and illicit brews promoted idleness, poverty, school dropouts, early marriages, HIV/AIDS among others, area County Police Commander Peter Kattam said it was the right time to make a change and restore order.
Kattam asked chiefs to make sure they left legacies behind after the lapse of their public service by preparing a society ready to take over from them.
He cited former Paramount Chief John Mwok who is hailed for ensuring there was no single alcohol outlet within his location which stands to date.
“Public participation forums were recently held in Pokot South and elders vehemently opposed any revocation of the ban on alcohol based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed decades ago. The area is now considered the first world of the county because of the development it manifests,” said the County Police Boss.
He directed all station commanders to ensure all arrests made are fully processed for the courts without any compromise, encouraging chiefs to stand their ground and ensure all seizures made are presented for successful prosecutions.
He told the chiefs not to be intimidated by anyone and instead should perform their duties as directed with the chiefs lamenting that sometimes they get frustrated by the political class whenever such crackdowns are conducted.
By Richard Muhambe and Anthony Melly
