Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is now accusing a former Principal Secretary in the Jubilee government of being behind the rise of alcohol abuse in the Mt Kenya region.
Speaking on Monday in Tharaka Nithi, the DP revealed that leaders in the region could not succeed infighting the illicit brew because of the PS.
“The person behind this illicit alcohol in Mt Kenya is your former principal secretary, that is why you could not fight the thing. He used to deploy you to attend to other matters so you can leave him to carry out his trade,” Gachagua said.
He, however, did not reveal the name of the PS.
The DP was speaking during the 3rd regional stakeholders engagement on the fight against illicit alcohol, drugs and other poisonous substances at Kirubia Stadium, Tharaka Nithi County.
The Eastern Region conference, led by Gachagua, brought together Cabinet secretaries, political, security, religious and community leaders from the eight counties of Eastern Region.
Gachagua alleged that the PS in question would move his alcohol stock during the Covid-19 pandemic despite government regulations on bars operations.
"During the Covid pandemic, all the bars were open so he could move his stock,” he said.
The DP, however, vowed to fight against illicit brew and drug and substance abuse in the Upper Eastern region.
He said the government will remain focused on addressing the menace which mostly affects the youth.
The DP said the government will work on a joint strategy to end illicit brew and substance abuse in Tharaka Nithi, Meru, Marsabit, Embu, and Isiolo counties.
While speaking at the same conference, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki warned police and members of the county administration against protecting drug peddlers anywhere in the country.
"Chiefs, assistant chiefs and police officers receiving protection money from illicit alcohol brewers or peddlers of drugs are agents of killers and do not deserve their security management positions. We will not transfer them. We will sack them,” Kithure Kindiki , Interior CS said.
