Church seeks to challenge legality of 'chang'aa'

By Titus Too

Africa Inland Church intends to seek enough signatures from Kenyans to seek repeal of the law legalising traditional brews.

AIC North Rift Bishop the Reverend Patrice Chumba said collecting signatures was the only option since the Alcoholic Control Bill 2010 had been signed into law. "We are widely consulting and from tomorrow (Monday), we will seek legal advice on how to go about seeking over a million signatures to support repealing of the law," said Chumba.

Chumba appealed to other clerics to support the move, saying legalisation of chang’aa will lead to moral decay. He said the population in the rural areas will be most affected and the country’s general development will slide.

"It is the duty of the Government to protect its people. By legalising chang’aa because people want freedom to drink alcohol will have negative effects in future," said Chumba.

Speaking to The Standard on Sunday in Eldoret, yesterday, Chumba said the National Aids Control Council had achieved much in reducing spread of HIV/Aids, but with the legalisation of brews, spread of the scourge is likely to escalate. "With the legalisation of traditional brews, consumers, mostly the youth, may fail to protect themselves from infections," said Chumba.

Police exonerated

The cleric exonerated the police and Provincial Administration over claims of harassment in preventing production and consumption of the brews before the Bill got presidential ascent. "Chiefs and the police were enforcing the law and they should not be accused for harassment."

Some producers of the traditional brews had accused law enforcers of harassment during raids.