A 20-member committee has been established by Members of County Assemblies from Murang’a, Kiambu, Nyeri, Nyandarua and Kirinyaga to develop strict laws regulating the sale of alcohol in Central Kenya.
The decision was made following consultations with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at Iruri home in Mathira Constituency, Nyeri County, in an effort to combat the sale of illicit brews in the region.
The committee will meet next Thursday with legal experts, including National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Inchung’wa, to draft a uniform law for the five counties. The bill will undergo public participation and County Assembly plenaries before adoption.
The proposed law will support the ongoing efforts to end the sale of illegal alcohol in Central Kenya, where the National Campaign against Drug and Abuse Authority (NACADA) reports an alcohol consumption rate of 14%.
The law will establish punitive measures such as fines on licensing to deter the manufacturing, distillation, packaging, and sale of illegal alcohol.
The regulations will also limit the issuance of licenses for alcohol outlets to a specific period and through strict adherence to the law.
The Deputy President plans to consult with the Director of Public Prosecution to align prosecution procedures and intends to engage other regions in eliminating the illicit brews and drugs.
