Interior Cabinet Secretary Kindiki Kithure has stated that the government will expedite the removal of public officers who are undermining the crackdown on illicit brews in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
Kindiki termed the campaign a national security interest that all officers must commit to fully support its success.
“We shall find a way of expediting your removal from service in the shortest time possible and the other things we can discuss,” he stated.
Speaking after a meeting chaired by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Wednesday, the CS noted that a policy has been adopted that no officer found culpable will be transferred but kicked out instantly.
“If you take us to court, we know what to do. We are patient enough to wait for hearings and appeal until the Supreme Court, by that time Kenya will be on the move,” he said.
The CS also ordered the public officers operating bars to immediately shut down such premises or resign from their positions.
This, he said, is in line with the Public Ethics Act.
"All public officers in the enforcement/compliance chain (KRA, KEBS, ACA, Public Health, NACADA, NGAO, NPS etc) shall not own and operate a bar directly or via proxy," Kindiki outlined.
"All public officers currently operating such premises are required to shut them down or resign from the service with immediate effect."
Kindiki added that cross-referencing of the Public Service Commission, National Police Service Commission, and distinct agency staff records shall be undertaken to secure compliance thereof.
He further asked political, regional and business leaders to avoid any form of interference in any way in the crackdown.
Kindiki stated that the government is deliberate on eradicating the vice adding that this is a national security operation that falls entirely within the remits of the law enforcement machinery of the state and its multi-agency collaborators.
Gachagua said the illicit brews, drugs and substance abuse are a threat to the family unit and by extension, to the country's national security.
The trajectory in proliferation and consumption of illicit brews and substance abuse, he said, is immensely and negatively impacting realisation of the Plan of transforming the lives of our people.
“We are determined to fully implement these short-term, midterm and long-term measures because it is the surest way we can restore dignity to our people and the nation,” he remarked.
