A week after a local assistant chief resolved to heavily fine people found guilty of drinking before the stipulated time, a section of residents have criticised his move and called for his immediate sacking.
The outspoken Riamoni Assistant Chief Mr Sambu Bosire reportedly authorised village elders to apprehend individuals found drunk before 5pm local time and fine them Sh500 each, after which the culprit is expected to report to the assistant chief’s office daily for period of one month to be assigned community work.
The controversial administrator was recently on the headlines for asking the government to announce a curfew to curb insecurity in the region.
Led by human rights activist from Gesima ward Mr Richard Mwebi on Friday morning, the residents called for immediate sacking of the chief for allegedly violating the law.
“We support some of his commitment to fight vices in the community but sometimes he goes overboard without knowing Kenya is a country guided by the rule of law. He should be axed by the government because fining people without explaining which law he is following is not only unacceptable but also illegal,” Mwebi said.
The residents revealed having written a letter to County Commissioner Mrs Josephine Onunga and demanded urgency over the matter.
“We have already written to the county commissioner and we expect that she will act in time. We have to protect the law if people don’t want to respect it because we are not a banana republic,” he said.
However, Bosire who spoke on phone defended his actions and said they were the only remedy to rampant drinking in the region and vowed to close down bars that were violating the Mututho Laws.
“I think this is a good measure to curb incidents in which people drink anyhow and abscond their duties. We have also put on notice those selling liquor before stipulated hours,” he said.