Gachagua vows to shut down 53 illicit brew manufacturers if opposition wins 2027 polls

The Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has vowed to shut down all companies manufacturing illicit brews in the country if the United Opposition wins next year’s General Election.

Gachagua, who hosted a diaspora caucus in Dallas, Texas, put 53 companies he accuses of manufacturing and distributing illicit alcohol on notice.

The former Deputy President alleged that the firms are selling products that are claiming lives and putting the country’s youth at risk.

Gachagua also claimed that some of the companies are bribing senior government officials to remain in operation.

He vowed that, if elected to top office, his government would take firm action against the manufacturers and intensify the fight against illicit alcohol and hard drugs.

"Within one month, we’ll shut down those 53 companies that are manufacturing killer brews, I want to put those owners on notice, make as much as you can between now and then,” he said.

“Give Kindiki and Ruto money every Friday between now and then and save some money to invest in something else after the election; try tea, coffee, avocado, tourism but that business of killer brews would not take place within the borders of the Republic of Kenya next year ... We shall not allow hard drugs, cocaine, cannabis without our borders.”

Gachagua had previously claimed that the resurgence of illicit alcohol in Central Kenya following his removal from office was a plot by government to destroy the region's youth. 

He alleged then that the prevalence of the harmful brews was a deliberate plan to reduce voter numbers in the region.

“Since I was removed from office, all the bad alcohol has been reintroduced to the mountain to destroy our people and reduce voter numbers. Chiefs have been told to look the other way, and the youth are being targeted,” Gachagua said in December 2024.

Gachagua, who previously spearheaded campaigns against illicit alcohol in the region during his tenure as deputy president, said the return of the brews has worsened the social and economic situation in Central Kenya.

He blamed the current administration for neglecting the fight against the vice, adding that the government is failing the people who voted it into office.

In a rejoinder then, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo criticised Gachagua, stating that serious national matters, like the problem of drugs and substance abuse, should not be trivialized.

"We take great exception that such grave national matters can be trivialized by one individual, on a church podium nonetheless, without empathy for the families that may be struggling with this crisis," said Omollo then.  

"In every corner of this country the government officials involved in the fight against illicit alcohol include chiefs and their assistants who are part of their communities and it’s inconceivable that they would preside over what Mr. Gachagua accuses them of."