DP Gachagua urges governors to support coffee reforms

DP Gachagua urges governors to support coffee reforms

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua attends the 23rd Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council engagement at his official residence in Karen, Nairobi on May 6, 2024. | DPPS

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Monday pleaded with governors to support the national government’s bid to transfer the mandate of licensing bars and liquor businesses from county governments to the state anti-drug agency.

Mr Gachagua also asked the county bosses to back the ongoing reforms in the coffee sub-sector, stating that some counties were undermining the process by issuing multiple trading licences to millers and marketers.

“We must stick to the interventions that we agreed on to ensure success in the reforms in the coffee sub-sector. Some counties like Kiambu and Uasin Gishu have gone contrary to what we agreed, including issuing multiple licenses to actors in the value chain. We agreed that millers cannot be marketers, but some have been issued with multiple licenses to mill and market coffee. Let us work together to ensure the reforms succeed,” he stated.

He spoke during the 23rd Ordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) meeting at the Official Residence in Karen, where he was accompanied by top government officials.

In the fight against illicit brews and drug abuse, the Deputy President said the national government intends to amend the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act to tighten control of manufacturing, distribution, sale and consumption of liquor drinks following the proliferation of killer drinks.

“The government is implementing measures on curbing illicit brews, drugs and substance abuse. We are seeking your support and cooperation in this initiative. It is our proposal that the mandate of licensing bars and liquor businesses be spearheaded by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse (NACADA), but the mandate of revenue collection goes to County Governments,” said Mr Gachagua.

“We need your help in regulating the sale of alcohol so that every establishment is not turned into a bar. Before taking the proposed amendment to Parliament, it will be given to the Council of Governors for input. We want a sober nation for socio-economic development,” he added.

He explained that of concern to the government is the second-generation alcoholic drinks, which have not only resulted in the deaths of people besides other grave socio-economic effects.

In February this year, at least 17 people in Kangai Village, Kirinyaga County, died after consuming illicit brew.

Mr Gachagua said the trade, consumption, and abuse of illicit alcohol, narcotics drugs and psychotropic substances now ranks as one of the five key national security threats.

“The Government is implementing a number of immediate, short and long-term measures to curb this menace. The Government has adopted a national security posture in the management of this concern with a focus on how to sustainably eliminate the counterfeit and sub-standard liquor from the source,” said the Deputy President.

He added that through various leadership and regional consultative forums and technical engagements in the fight against illicit brews and drug abuse, a number of gaps have been identified.

The gaps include legislation and regulatory frameworks.

He said another gap of concern is the quality and standards leading to the proliferation of counterfeits and substandard alcohol and alcoholic drinks in the market.

Additionally, some judicial officers are detailing the process with laughable fines.

The Deputy President also asked the county governors to set aside funds collected from the licensing of bars and liquor businesses to facilitate the construction of special wards in hospitals to deal with recovering alcohol and drug addicts.

During the session, it was resolved that the Council of Governors should pay the eligible pending bills on a First in First out (FIFO) framework.

The council noted a 5.4 per cent drop in pending bills, an equivalent of Ksh.8.61 billion as of March 31, 2024, compared to the start of the fiscal year. The outstanding pending bills are Ksh.150.66 billion.

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