Uasin Gishu County Alcoholics Drinks and Licensing Board Director Armstrong Rono has appealed to political and church leaders to persuade alcohol addicts to attend rehabilitation programmes.
Speaking to journalists at Eldoret Town on Wednesday, Rono revealed that over 2,000 alcohol addicts are hiding and are afraid of rehabilitation.
The Alcoholics Drinks and Licensing Board Director said that they have information of addicts who are hiding for fear of rehabilitation.
He said the addicts need urgent treatment noting that most of them could be suffering from withdrawals following the ongoing crackdown.
Rono warned that the addicts allegedly in hiding could die if they fail to get treatment.
“We have information that some 2,000 alcohol addicts are hiding in several parts of the county,” he said.
He stated that the addicts are also afraid of ridicule and discrimination from the society adding that officials from the board have been deployed to look for the said addicts and put them on rehabilitation. He added that the Board has partnered with the Uasin Gishu government and other agencies to offer help to addicts.
The official said that over 3,000 drug addicts are currently on rehabilitation at various centres across the county.
Rono on the same note warned rogue bra operators saying that the board will continue with inspections.
“We advise licensed bar operators to adhere to the laid down regulations to avoid falling in the wrong hands of the law,” he advised.
He added that the board is closely working with chiefs and local administrators to fight illicit brews and second hand generation beer.
In a security meeting in Eldoret Town last week, Rift Valley Regional Coordinator Osman Warfa asked alcohol addicts to attend rehabilitation programmes.
He said the government was working round the clock to rehabilitate and treat drug addicts in the region. Warfa also asked chiefs not to stop fighting illicit brewers saying that they (chiefs) will be given security when conducting raids and swoops on illicit brewers.