Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Tuesday January 23 held a meeting with Members of County Assembly (MCAs) from Nyandarua following the county’s enactment of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill, 2023.

This was during a meeting at the deputy president’s official residence in Karen, Nairobi, where he congratulated  them for passing a law that would help in the fight against alcoholism in the country. 

The new law prohibits the issuance of a licence for sale of alcoholic drinks to supermarkets, restaurants and wines and spirits outlets in the county. 

“Management Committee shall not grant licence for the sale of alcoholic drinks to a supermarket or such other retail chain & a restaurant. 

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“No licence shall be granted for sale of alcoholic drinks in an off-licence retail outlet commonly referred to as wines & spirits,” read part of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill, 2023.

In addition, the law prohibits the sale, manufacture and distribution of alcoholic drinks in the county without a licence in accordance with the Act.

“No one shall manufacture, produce, sell, distribute or dispose Alcoholic beverage within the county without a licence issued in accordance with the Act. Failure to abide by this & the fine is up to Ksh30k or a sentence not exceeding 4 months.”

In addition, every sub-county will have an Alcoholic Drinks Regulation Committee which will receive and vet applications for retail and wholesale licence. 

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The sub county committees will be required to file quarterly reports on applications received, vetted and recommended for approval to the County Alcoholic Drinks Regulation and Management Committee.

Speaking during the meeting with Nyandarua MCAs, Gachagua stated that the Kenya Kwanza government was focused on winning the war on alcoholism.

“We must win the fight against illicit brews, drugs, and substance abuse to save our generation. And for this war to succeed and be sustained, there must be proper legal frameworks,” he said.

“This morning, at the Official Residence in Karen, I had an engagement with Members of County Assembly of Nyandarua, who shared the new Nyandarua County Alcoholic Drinks Act, 2023 they have enacted to provide structural support to ending illicit brew in the devolved unit,” he added. 

He also lauded Nyandarua governor Moses Kiarie Badilisha for signing the Bill into law, for regulating the manufacturing, distribution and sale of alcohol in the county. 

The new law is an outcome of the collective efforts between the national and county leadership. 

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“We look forward to intensifying these efforts for the enactment of similar laws in the region and across the country. 

“President William Ruto and the entire government congratulate the honourable members for heeding our call to save our youth from imminent destruction,” stated the deputy president.