Kirinyaga church leaders declare war on drugs, illicit alcohol

Speaking at Ngurubani during a meeting organised by the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK), Kirinyaga Chapter, the leaders called for concerted efforts by the national and county governments, churches and communities to eliminate illegal drinking dens and drug networks.

The meeting was led by Bishop Jane Muchiri, alongside Kamau Muchira, Chairman of the County Counselling and Psychological Association, and Reverend Dedan Gathara of Grace Gospel Church.

Bishop Muchiri said the church would support individuals and institutions committed to fighting drug abuse and illicit alcohol in the county, emphasising that the challenge required courage, commitment and cooperation.

"We recognise that confronting this challenge requires courage, commitment and cooperation among government agencies, churches, community leaders and residents," she said.

Muchira declared that the church would stand with those leading the fight against the vice, including supporting the closure of illegal bars and the destruction of illicit brews. He added that church leaders would be willing to testify in court where necessary.

"We are saying with one voice that we do not want alcohol, we do not want drugs," Muchira said.

The leaders also criticised the county government over the licensing of bars and collection of levies from establishments they accused of selling dangerous alcoholic drinks, particularly in rural villages.

Reverend Gathara acknowledged that licensing falls under the county government's mandate while enforcement of national laws is the responsibility of the national government. However, he challenged county authorities to stop collecting revenue from bars allegedly involved in selling illicit alcohol.

"We will not allow you to collect money over the dead bodies of our children. We have said enough is enough," Gathara said.

He questioned how the revenue collected from the numerous licensed bars was benefiting residents, pointing to the growing number of street children in Ngurubani town.

"That money is not helping even the children who are increasing day by day in Ngurubani town. Where are you taking the money after collecting it from these many bars you are licensing?" he posed.

Bishop Muchiri said the church would not remain silent as young people continued to lose their lives and livelihoods to substance abuse.

She called for an end to illicit alcohol, saying its impact was being felt across households, where families were struggling with absent fathers, broken relationships and financial hardship.

The leaders said many men and young people were spending their earnings on illicit brews instead of meeting their families' basic needs, leaving women and children vulnerable to poverty.

They further linked drug and alcohol addiction to school dropouts, unemployment and rising insecurity, warning that some young people were turning to theft and violence to sustain their habits.

The church leaders urged parents to take greater responsibility for their children by monitoring their movements, offering guidance and reporting suspected drug dealers to authorities rather than protecting them out of fear of embarrassment.

They also called on chiefs, village elders and church members to work together to identify illegal drinking dens, support enforcement operations and help those struggling with addiction access rehabilitation services.

On the political front, the leaders urged residents to register as voters ahead of the 2027 General Election and called on political parties to conduct credible nominations and promote responsible leadership.

Muchira and Gathara warned politicians against exploiting young people through alcohol and drugs to create disorder during political campaigns.

Bishop Muchiri urged residents to understand their rights, participate peacefully in the electoral process and make informed choices, while rejecting violence, bribery, hate speech and tribal divisions.