Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused unnamed officers from the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government of undermining the fight against illicit brew in the Mt. Kenya region. According to Gachagua, the Interior Ministry has facilitated the re-opening of bars in the region to thwart his mission to end 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 stated that President William Ruto tasked him with leading a multi-sectoral group to end illicit brew and drug abuse in Kenya. Among the measures agreed upon was the closure of illegal bars to curb the sale of illicit brew.
He noted that during a walk in Mathira on Sunday morning, he spotted young men drunk and lying in trenches, indicating that the alcoholism problem had returned.
“I have never missed a single cabinet sitting, so there is no decision that has been made by the cabinet to stop the war against illicit brew,” he said.
Gachagua accused the Interior Ministry, 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 the Interior Ministry think you want to interfere with this successful program to undermine the Deputy President, you are effectively undermining President Ruto and his administration,” Gachagua remarked.
He warned President Ruto about 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.”
Gachagua believes that individuals at the Interior Ministry are frustrating his efforts because they think the program has increased his popularity in the Mt. Kenya region.
“You will be hurting Ruto and his government. The popularity or otherwise of our administration will depend on interference or non-interference with the war against illicit brews,” he added.
