Alcohol crackdown leads to 300 prosecutions

Embu, Wednesday, June 28, 2023

KNA by Steve Gatheru

The crackdown on the sale of illegal alcohol and other substances in the Eastern Region during the last two weeks has seen some 300 prosecutions and over 135,000 liters of illegal brews destroyed.

Eastern Regional Commissioner Paul Rotich said in spite of the success, the war is far from over and instructed security committees in the region's counties to devise new strategies that will see the illegal trade eliminated.

Speaking at the Kenya School of Government in Embu where he met the county security committees from the region to review progress, Rotich said that they should involve the public so as to get actionable intelligence to help them fight the brews.

"I know the public is fully behind us because every family has a member immersed in this alcohol or other substance abuse", he said.

He said the county committees should cascade the campaign to the sub locations to bring everyone on board as the war could not be won without the active co-operation of the public.

He revealed that other government agencies such as the Kenya Bureau of Standards, Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Anti-Counterfeit Agency and NACADA were on hand to give required support in ensuring successful prosecutions. 

Mr Rotich agreed with sentiments that some officers were complicit in the illegal business and said measures have been put in place to ensure all security officers work as a team to ensure the campaign succeeds.

He added that about two thirds of what needed to be done had been achieved and called for further concerted efforts as the campaign enters the homestretch.

Courtesy ; K. N. A