People taking illicit liquor from Ikuruma village in Nyamira County will be subjected to community punishment of up to three months as the illegal brewers face a forcible eviction from the area of the equivalent period, area residents have agreed.
This comes at a time when the government is executing a crackdown on illicit brewers across the county after a directive from President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The residents on Thursday claimed the illicit brew was hampering development in the region since most youths had been drawn into the habit of drinking.
“As locals, we have the experience on what alcohol has cost us. Our youths have totally got lost and that is why we had to come with the new measures to tame the offenders. Those who will be found drunk between 7am-5pm will be subjected to a three months community punishment while the brewers will be forced out of the village for the equivalent period,” said Mr Alex Orori.
They urged the government to embrace their new rules and promised to work with the local administration to combat the crisis not only in the village but also in other neighbouring villages.
“What we need is support from the government and this is the time we need it the most. The laws will save our people from the predicament and it will lead to spur of development,” added Mr Justus Mogambi.
However, area the chief, Francis Rasugu, distanced himself from the ‘new laws’ but insisted that the government will use all in its jurisdiction to fight the illicit brew.
“I really don’t know of the said rules because no one has told me so but it is important to know that the government will use all means to curb the illicit brew,” he told HiviSasa.com.