Kisumu East District Commissioner Moses Ole Tutui has blamed the National Campaign against Drug Abuse (NACADA) and Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) for rising cases of illegal alcohol.
He however dismissed claims that district officers, chiefs and assistant chiefs are to blame for the rising cases of illegal alcohol consumption.
He said that most of the impounded liquor normally has Kenya Bureau of Standards stickers.
“Somebody somewhere is not doing his job well, and that is why these illegal brews get their way to the innocent consumers”, said Ole Tutui.
Speaking to the press during the Jamhuri Day celebrations in Kisumu, he said KEBS is not doing enough to ensure that alcohol with fake stickers is identified and the people punished.
“It is the work of NACADA, KEBS and Kenya Revenue Authority to test all samples of alcohol, give letters of recommendation to those who have qualified and name those who are illegally carrying out their businesses”, said Ole Tutui.
He said majority of those affected by illegal brews are always the youth.
“We have observed that young men and old women are really into this business, and this is really affecting our economy not only as a district, but the country in general”, noted the DC.
He confirmed that over 5000 liters of illicit brew was impounded in the district last week.
Ole Tutui appealed to the public to inform the relevant authorities immediately when they come across or suspect any cases of illicit brews.
“The duty to ensure that there are no illicit brews does not only lies entirely on the Chiefs and their assistants, but also on the relevant authorities tasked with ensuring that there is sanity in our alcohol market.” He said.