Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome has asked the government to allow police to license liquor stores instead of county governors.
Addressing a congregation during the Illicit Alcohol And Drug Eradication Conference held in Mombasa on Monday, February 26, 2024, the IG stated that if effected, the change will immensely contribute to curbing illicit brews in the country.
While requesting Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to revert the changes, Koome affirmed that licensing liquor joints should be handled as a security matter as it endangers people's lives.
He explained that the role should be reverted to the police because governors had formed a tendency to politicise the licensing of alcohol stores such that they forget the security aspect of it and subsequently put lives at risk.
"Narequest sheria zibadilishwe, hii mambo ya licensing ya this outlets za pombe irudi vile zilikua zamani, magavana ni ukweli ile tumefanya ni siasa, we shall listen more talk less but act and from today wenzangu let your presence be felt. From today let me get returns on how many barons have been arrested whoever it is whatever the status in the society ni kurushwa kwa Land Cruiser nyuma mengine tutaongea baadae," he stated.
Loosely translates to;
"I will request that maybe the law be changed regarding the licensing of alcohol outlets to return to the way it was in the past. Governors here will hate me but you know that the IG of this country is not a populist contest. I don't need to be popular. This matter of governors licensing alcohol matters is a security concern. Our people are dying. When the governor is there, to tell the truth, he looks at the votes and revenue. The security aspect is being forgotten."
The latest comes even as the war against drugs and illicit brews intensifies across the country, led by DP Gachagua, a section of leaders have come on the front to heighten the war which is still a bottleneck in different parts of the country.
Recently, the DP announced that the government was planning to roll out a set of stringent measures to help curb the menace, Gachagua noted that he was working hand in hand with senior government officials and security officers to actualise the goal.
"I held a meeting this week with top Government officials and senior security officers and we have agreed on these measures which will be rolled out from next week," he said.
