Thika MP Alice Ng’ang’a has intensified calls for tougher action against illicit alcohol in Kiambu County, warning that the proliferation of unregulated brews is destroying families, livelihoods and the future of young people.
Ms Ng’ang’a, who is positioning herself for the Kiambu governorship in the 2027 General Election, said the alcohol problem had reached a level that demanded urgent intervention by national and county authorities.
“It is heartbreaking to wake up every day to headlines of illicit alcohol destroying families, killing livelihoods and stealing the future of our young people,” Ms Ng’ang’a said.
“This is a conversation we must have as a country and especially here in Mt Kenya.”
The legislator said her interactions with residents across Kiambu had exposed the human cost of alcoholism, particularly among families struggling to cope with addiction.
“Having traversed Kiambu County, I have seen mothers cry as their sons sink deeper into alcoholism. These are not JABA stories. These are real families, real pain and real futures being destroyed,” she said.
“We cannot keep pretending that everything is fine.”
Her remarks come amid continuing concerns over the availability of illicit and unregulated alcoholic drinks in parts of Kiambu, with the debate increasingly focusing on licensing, enforcement and the responsibility of county authorities to protect communities.
Ms Ng’ang’a challenged the county administration to explain whether existing measures to regulate alcoholic drinks were achieving their intended purpose.
“The difficult questions must be asked now. What is the county doing to stop this menace? Are licensing and enforcement measures actually working?” she asked.
She also questioned whether revenue collection from liquor licences was receiving greater attention than the social consequences of alcohol abuse.
“Or are we only excited about collecting revenue from liquor licences while our people suffer? And where is the Governor when Kiambu families are crying?” she asked.
Under the county regulatory framework, authorities have responsibility for licensing and regulating alcoholic drink outlets and enforcing restrictions governing where such businesses can operate.
Ms Ng’ang’a questioned how outlets allegedly operating in prohibited or restricted locations continued to do business, particularly in areas near learning institutions and residential neighbourhoods.
“The county has a Directorate mandated to regulate and control alcoholic drinks, including licensing and enforcement. Yet questions remain about how outlets continue to operate in places where the law sets clear restrictions, including around learning institutions and residential areas,” she said.
“Where are the regulators at a time like this?”
The MP said the county’s response should go beyond public relations exercises and focus on enforcement, accountability, rehabilitation and prevention.
She also criticised what she portrayed as misplaced priorities in the management of county affairs, arguing that programmes targeting agriculture and livestock could not substitute for action on problems directly affecting families and young people.
“Chicks and piglets can wait. Our children cannot,” she said.
“Kiambu cannot afford leadership that watches a generation sink and responds with silence. Enough excuses. Enough pretending.”
Her comments are likely to inject the alcohol control debate into the emerging political contest ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly as prospective candidates position themselves on issues affecting households across the county.
The controversy also places renewed attention on the balance between county revenue collection and enforcement of public health and social safeguards governing the alcohol trade.
Ms Ng’ang’a called for stronger accountability from those charged with regulating the sector, saying residents deserved a government that prioritises their welfare.
“The time for hiding behind empty PR stunts is over. Our people deserve action, accountability and a county government that puts lives before revenue,” she said.
