5 OCPDs, 99 chiefs sacked after illicit brew claims more than 7,000 lives according to Nkaissery

More than 7,000 people have been killed by illicit brew in the country in the last four years.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery said thousands more have been crippled, maimed, rendered blind or reduced to hopeless alcoholics.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery. He says that in the last four years over 7,000 people have been killed by the harmful drinks while thousands more have been crippled, maimed, rendered blind or reduced to hopeless alcoholics. (PHOTO: COURTESY)

“In the last four years over 7,000 people have been killed by the harmful drinks while thousands more have been crippled, maimed, rendered blind or reduced to hopeless alcoholics,” he said.

He said because of the menace, 99 chiefs and assistant chiefs have been dismissed while 15 police officers including five OCPDs and seven OCS’ are on the firing line for abetting manufacturing and consumption.

Nkaissery said the officials are being punished to underscore the government’s commitment to rid the country of the illegal brew.

Most of the affected are from Central Kenya.

“The campaign against illicit liquor and harmful spirits will continue throughout the country until the menace is brought to an end,” said Nkaissery.

He did not elaborate the exact stations the affected government officials have been serving. He said the Inspector General of police has taken drastic disciplinary action against the 15 officers and advised the National Police Service Commission to complete the process as required by law.

Both IG Joseph Boinnet and NPSC chairman Johnstone Kavuludi accompanied Nkaissery when he made the announcement. The action follows a directive by the president to destroy illicit alcoholic beverages countrywide.

He said some officers have become addicted while others have been found drunk while on duty instead of being in the forefront of the campaign.

The minister said since the operation began, more than 10 people have died out of withdrawal syndrome and efforts rehabilitate tens others are ongoing.

Nkaissery said 15 million litres of harmful second generation spirits, 686,000 litres of busaa, muratina and karubuu, 70,000 litres of chang’aa, 20,000 litres of ethanol and 30,000 litres of methanol have been destroyed in the last two weeks across the country.

He said security officials and mobs have destroyed 448 illegal drinking dens, closed 542 illegal bars, seized 54 sachets of heroine and cocaine and captured 2,500 rolls of bhang and other forms of narcotics.

“Close to 20,000 suspects have been arrested and are in various stages of prosecution,” he said.

The minister also argued crime had reduced drastically in the country following the campaign. He did not give figures of the reduction.

Nkaissery said some manufacturers are hiding the illicit alcohol in Naivasha, Nakuru, Ongata Rongai, Kitengela and Thika.

“If you are one of these, there are two options, either voluntarily destroy the illicit brew in your possession or face the full force of the law.”

He however assured those in genuine and legal business they will be protected from attacks and destruction. He mentioned Keroche Industries saying they will be protected from any attacks from locals or any other party.

This followed a protest by the owners that some people were wrongly targeting their businesses.

He said police had been instructed to ensure strict compliance with the law during the operations. Nkaissery said there have been cases of dumping of petroleum products in the local market that were meant for export.

He said they are set to start an operation targeting the operators.

Nkaissery said National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse has given Sh22 million to the fight against illicit brews in Central Kenya, most of which will be used to rehabilite addicts.

A mobilisation exercise will be carried out to identify addicts experiencing withdrawal symptoms and rehabiltate them.

The exercise will also involve road shows organised in collaboration with the national and county governments.

The government launched an operation targeting what they termed as illicit brew destroying them. This saw genuine businesses attacked and destroyed by mobs. Some of those involved in the attacks were burnt in some cases. This drew condemnation from the genuine operators.