Uncontrolled licensing of wines and spirits outlets within the urban centres is a challenge in the control of liquor consumption in Thika East.
This is according to the National Campaign Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse (NACADA) Chairman John Mututho.
Speaking in Gatundu on Tuesday, Mututho said that the wines and spirits currently being sold in the various outlets spread out in the urban and rural towns are feared to be adulterated and are being sold at very cheap prices thus posing a risk to the users.
“With devolution, the licensing and regulation of alcoholic drinks and beverages was moved to the county governments. We are therefore not able to either regulate or enforce the alcoholic and beverage act as it’s now under the county government,” he said.
He added, “Wines and spirits are now the biggest threats we are dealing with as anybody can walk in and walk out of an outlet at any time of the day.”
Mututho faulted the Thika East administrators following the deaths of three men last week after consumption of illicit liquor saying that they cannot fight liquor while selling it them.
The Kiambu County Administrator in-charge of Liquor licensing, Rose Kimani told the media that the licensing board has called for renewal of licensing for bar and restaurants and so far only a handful have complied.