Rigathi Gachagua Slams CS Murkomen over New Anti-Alcohol Policy: "Drama and Loftiness Won't Help"
- Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua dismissed the proposals unveiled by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA)
- Gachagua alleged how President William Ruto sabotaged his previous efforts to fight illicit brew and drug abuse
- The former DP told Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen what to do instead of launching new policies
Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nairobi - Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua has reacted to the recently unveiled anti-alcohol policy proposal.
Source: Facebook
On Wednesday, July 30, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) launched proposals as part of the new anti-alcohol and drug abuse policy.
Reacting to the new recommendations, Gachagua accused Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen of treating Kenyans as fools.
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Did Rigathi Gachagua succeed in fighting illicit brew?
In a statement, Gachagua claimed that during his tenure as the DP, he managed to eliminate illicit brew and drug abuse in the country.
He said his efforts saw the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) record an increase in revenue as Kenyans were consuming genuine alcohol from authorised establishments that paid taxes.
"CS Interior, you are wasting your time and enjoying the people of Kenya and treating them as fools. While in office, I put practical measures to curb illicit alcohol and check drug abuse. In a record one year of consistent hard work and practical interventions, we successfully eliminated illicit and poisonous alcohol and brought sobriety among our brothers and sisters who had been affected," Gachagua said.
However, Gachagua said his efforts to fight illicit brew were sabotaged by President William Ruto and then Interior CS Kithure Kindiki.
"Your boss, Mr. William Ruto, with the help of your predecessor, Mr. Yes Sir, and your PS, deliberately sabotaged the whole programme, and all the gains made were lost. Your PS personally looked for manufacturers of illicit alchohol that we had shut down and authorised them to continue manufacturing and distributing poison," he alleged.
What should Murkomen do to fight brew?
According to Gachagua, Ruto is allegedly not interested in having a sober and productive nation.
The former deputy president claimed Ruto appointed two Cabinet Secretaries despite their alleged links to drug peddling.
Gachagua asked Murkomen to implement existing laws on alcohol and drug abuse instead of launching new policies just to attract attention.
"He is never interested in a sober and productive nation. That is why he deliberately, while fully aware, brought to the Cabinet your two colleagues with a history of destroying our youths by selling hard drugs. How does anybody trust you will sack public officials for abetting the sale of drugs before you ask your boss to deal with your two colleagues who are known international drug lords? Mr. Murkomen, drama, and loftiness won't help. We have sufficient laws and other regulations on alcohol. Implement them. Spare Kenyans the joke and get to work," he claimed.
Source: Facebook
What did NACADA say about the anti-alcohol policy?
The new policy by NACADA generated mixed reactions from Kenyans, some saying the recommendations are punitive.
NACADA later issued a statement dismissing some of the media reports about the anti-alcohol policy.
According to the authority, the policy only contains recommendations, which will be subjected to public participation before becoming law.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
