Leaders in Nyansiongo location, Borabu Sub-county Nyamira County have been put on notice over alleged complicity in illegal brew trade.
Speaking during a stakeholder meeting with NACADA at Kijauri Township yesterday, County Commissioner Isaiah Nakoru castigated the area chief Onsombi Mikuongo, assistant chiefs Elijah Abuga and Beatrice Barongo among elders and Nyumba Kumi leaders over the escalating crime under their watch.
Nakoru noted collusion of leaders with criminal elements was making it difficult to stamp out the menace and warned them with removal from office if things don’t change.
The County Commissioner urged the local police to be more vigilant in arresting culprits for prosecution saying drunkenness would derail the government from meeting its 4 agendas if the population is not sober.
The chief and his team who were ordered to line up before other stakeholders declared they would be more vigilant to stem out the menace in the area.
NACADA CEO Mr. Victor Okioma said major bottlenecks in combating alcoholism and drugs of addiction were corruption, self interests among the leaders mandated with the responsibility and lack of accountability by inspecting and licensing officers.
Noting that rehabilitation for addicts was expensive, with the cheapest costing sh. 30,000 a month, the CEO appealed to residents to strive in prevention of the vice rather than cure.
He cited Uasin Gishu and Iten Counties as leaders in the fight against the vice with the best interagency committee and a good rehabilitation facility respectively.
He called upon county governments to desist from abusing their power to license, by offering permits illicitly in the name of raising revenue.
County Commissioner Nakoru also decried gambling in the area saying it was not only denying children room to go to school but was an avenue for drugs of addiction and promoting promiscuity.