Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has alleged that officials from the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government are actively working against efforts to combat illicit brew in the Mt Kenya region.
Gachagua claims that these officials have supported the reopening of bars in the area, which he views as a deliberate attempt to undermine his campaign against alcoholism in Mt Kenya.
“I heard that our local MP has directed security officers in Karatina, purportedly on orders from above to re-open bars. An MP cannot instruct security officers, if security officers from this region are taking instructions from an MP, we shall discipline them,” Gachagua told congregants at Kiamariga PEFA Church in Mathira Constituency on Sunday.
Gachagua mentioned that President William Ruto assigned him the responsibility of leading a multi-sectoral team to tackle the issue of illicit brew and drug abuse in Kenya. As part of their agreed measures, they aimed to close down illegal bars to curb the sale of illicit brew.
However, during a walk in Mathira on Sunday morning, Gachagua observed young men who appeared drunk and were lying in trenches, indicating a resurgence of the alcoholism problem.
“I have never missed a single cabinet sitting, so there is no decision that has been made by the cabinet to stop war against illicit brew,” he said.
Gachagua went on to accuse the Interior Ministry, which is led by Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, of thwarting his efforts to curb alcoholism.
“Anybody stopping that war or undermining it is setting the President and the government against the people. If you people at interior (Ministry) think that you want to interfere with this successful programme so as to undermine the Deputy President, you are effectively undermining President Ruto and his administration,” Gachagua remarked.
He warned President Ruto of the officers whose intention is to ‘set him up against the people’.
“Mr.President, if you allow overzealous officers at Harambee house, with a political scheme, to interfere with this war against illicit brew, those officers will set you up against the people.”
It is Gachagua’s opinion that the said persons at the Interior Ministry are frustrating his efforts because they think the programme has given him (Gachagua) popularity in Mt Kenya region.
