President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday caused a stir at the border town of Malaba when he openly endorsed the consumption of local brew in Western Kenya.
This, he did, contrary to his earlier stand on consumption of locally made beer, a development that led to the deployment of police officers and provincial administration officials in Central Kenya to fight local drinks' consumption.
Uhuru, who spoke at Malaba Township Primary School when he commissioned construction works for the Malaba-Angurai-Moding-Kawalun and Angurai-Malakisi roads, however, cautioned residents not to indulge in excessive drinking.
"Engage in moderate drinking and go and take care of your family," the President said.
He was responding to concerns raised by Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong who in his speech had accused the police of fighting local brew makers and drinkers leaving out 'real criminals' walking freely in the border town.
"Police officers appear to target busaa brewers and drinkers instead of pursuing real criminals who wreak havoc by hacking to death innocent residents," he said.
Busaa is a popular locally-made alcoholic drink consumed in Western and Nyanza regions.
The President in his response, told police officers to stop mistreating petty lawbreakers and instead target criminals destabilizing peace in the county.
In August 2015, Uhuru ordered politicians and local administrators in Central Kenya to deal with the illicit brew business in the region which, he claimed, had devastated many lives.