Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is today expected to chair a leaders’ meeting on alcoholism and drug abuse in Mt Kenya.
The conference, Gachagua said, will be held in Nyeri and will see radical measures aimed at eliminating illicit brews developed.
Politicians, security teams from the region and officials from the National Authority for Campaign against Drugs are expected to attend.
Speaking during a church service in Mathira last Sunday, Gachagua said he had been instructed by the President to convene the meeting.
“The President is concerned and he has asked me to convene the conference. We will come up with radical proposals on how to deal with the alcohol menace and abuse of drugs in this region, it will have far-reaching implications,” he said.
Ministries of Health and Trade, Kenya Revenue Authority, and Kenya Bureau of Standards will also be represented.
The DP was of the view that the illicit brew dealers targeted young people between 12 and 30 years to bring down a whole community.
“We cannot, as the leadership, sit back and watch as an entire generation is being wiped out. We have concluded that this region was targeted for destruction because of its population, its success in business through the introduction of illicit brews and drugs,” Gachagua said.
He claimed a former powerful Principal Secretary from the region was behind the influx of the illicit brew while intimidating security officers and their administration counterparts.
He warned leaders who will miss the conference that they will be answerable to the people.
“It will be unforgivable if we just sit back and watch as an entire generation is being wiped out. Friday will be a defining day for the future of this region,” he added.
Source: star