Kiambu County Assembly is moving to tighten controls on alcoholic drinks, with proposed amendments to the county Alcoholic Drinks Control Act set to undergo public participation amid growing concern over illicit brews, counterfeit alcohol and alcohol related deaths among young people.
The proposed changes seek to give communities a greater role in regulating alcohol outlets, strengthen inspection and licensing procedures and restructure the committees responsible for controlling alcoholic drinks at the grassroots.
The debate in the Assembly came against the backdrop of renewed concern over suspected illicit and counterfeit alcoholic drinks in Kiambu, with police and other agencies continuing to conduct enforcement operations in the county.
The National Police Service has previously identified illicit alcohol as a major public health and socio economic concern, while national authorities have repeatedly called for a multi agency approach involving county governments, the police, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), the Anti Counterfeit Authority and other agencies.
Moving a motion seeking urgent debate on the problem, Karuri MCA Peter Wainaina said alcohol abuse was increasingly threatening the health and future of young people in the county.
He called for stronger preventive measures, public education, treatment, counselling and rehabilitation, alongside effective enforcement of laws governing the manufacture, distribution and sale of alcoholic drinks.
“The gravity of this situation calls for urgent deliberation by this Assembly on the increasing prevalence of alcohol abuse and its impact on the health and well being of residents of Kiambu County, particularly the young people,” Mr Wainaina said.
He questioned the effectiveness of existing systems for detecting and stopping illicit alcohol before it reaches consumers.
Wainaina said national agencies such as NACADA, KEBS and the Anti Counterfeit Authority, together with the county government, had important responsibilities in regulating alcoholic products.
He argued that enforcement would remain difficult where suspected illegal products could not be scientifically tested and presented as evidence in court.
The MCA called for the establishment of a laboratory capable of testing alcoholic products, saying scientific analysis was essential in determining the contents and safety of suspected illicit drinks.
His concerns came as the Assembly considered wider changes to the county’s alcohol control framework.
The Kiambu County Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, 2024, which commenced in December 2024, establishes a Directorate of Alcoholic Drinks Control, a county regulatory and management committee and ward alcoholic drinks regulatory committees.
Riabai MCA Hezron Gachui, who said he was involved in the committee reviewing the proposed amendments, said one of the major changes under consideration was to give members of the public a stronger role in triggering action against problematic alcohol outlets.
He said residents could be given an avenue to petition for the closure or revocation of licences of establishments accused of repeatedly breaching the law.
“The committee realised that there is need to give the public an opportunity to petition where an outlet has flouted the law or has become notorious,” Mr Gachui said.
He said the proposed amendments would also review the structure and mandate of alcohol control committees at ward and sub county levels.
According to Gachui, the changes would give greater responsibility to sub county committees and bring senior county officers into inspections and licensing processes.
He argued that concentrating responsibility at the grassroots level without adequate oversight could create loopholes in enforcement.
“We realised that we had devolved corruption when we gave the mandate to ward alcoholic drinks committees,” he said, adding that the proposed framework would strengthen the involvement of senior officers at sub county level.
The proposals will now be subjected to public participation, giving residents, traders, alcohol manufacturers, public health officials, community organisations and other stakeholders an opportunity to comment before the Assembly proceeds with the legislative process.
The public participation phase is likely to become a key test of the proposed reforms, particularly on questions surrounding licensing, enforcement, community petitions and the number and location of alcohol outlets.
Limuru Central MCA Nduta Muongi, who supported the motion, said the issue had become urgent because of deaths and health problems associated with alcohol consumption.
She said communities had repeatedly raised concerns about outlets suspected of selling illicit drinks, only for some businesses to resume operations after temporary closures.
Ms Muongi proposed a stronger mechanism through which residents could petition for action against establishments that repeatedly violate alcohol control regulations.
She said women and other community members had raised complaints about suspected illicit alcohol outlets but often felt that their concerns did not result in lasting action.
“We continue losing our young men,” she said, calling for an avenue through which communities could participate directly in enforcement.
Gitaru MCA Jane Thogori also backed the proposed changes, saying residents in her ward had witnessed young people suffer the consequences of alcohol abuse.
Speaking in Kiswahili, Ms Thogori said the Assembly should examine how alcoholic drinks were manufactured, distributed and sold, particularly traditional brews.
She cited concerns over the changing preparation and sale of muratina, saying some products were being prepared and sold within a short period without the traditional processes associated with the brew.
Muguga nominated MCA Alice Wangui Kamau said the fight against harmful alcohol should be treated as a collective responsibility involving families, communities, county authorities and national agencies.
She said the county needed its own laboratory to test suspected counterfeit or adulterated alcoholic products.
Ms Kamau also proposed reducing the concentration of bars in some urban centres, arguing that excessive availability of alcohol could contribute to increased consumption.
She stressed, however, that the objective should not be to eliminate legitimate alcohol businesses but to ensure that products entering the market were genuine and met required standards.
Kamau further raised concern over claims that counterfeit versions of established alcoholic brands were finding their way into the market.
Such claims, however, would require laboratory testing and investigations by the relevant regulatory agencies before specific products or manufacturers can be identified as counterfeit.
Father George Kimani, MCA for Kamau Nachu, said the Assembly needed to strengthen implementation of existing laws while considering further amendments.
He called for public participation to enable residents and stakeholders to contribute to the debate on how alcohol should be regulated in the county.
He also criticised what he described as loopholes in licensing, alleging that some premises operating primarily as other businesses had obtained licences associated with bars and restaurants.
He urged the county administration to review questionable licences and ensure that licensing decisions complied with the law.
The MCA also raised concerns about revenue pressures, arguing that the pursuit of own-source revenue should not compromise enforcement of alcohol control regulations.
Ngecha Tigoni MCA Patrick Ngaruiya cautioned against politicising the alcohol debate, saying the problem extended beyond Kiambu and required cooperation between county and national agencies.
He said agencies such as KEBS and the Anti Counterfeit Authority had important roles in testing and verifying products, while the county’s responsibility included licensing and enforcement within its jurisdiction.
Ngaruiya said the Assembly had already begun working on amendments that would be taken to the public for their views.
“This is a concerted effort that requires each and every person,” he said, stressing that the proposed changes should benefit from contributions by all stakeholders.
The debate comes as the national government continues to intensify action against illicit alcohol. In July, the National Police Service reported a nationwide operation targeting the manufacture, distribution and consumption of illicit brews, including operations in Kiambu.
National authorities have also acknowledged the serious health risks associated with illicit alcohol, including products adulterated with toxic substances. A 2025 national security report described illicit alcohol as a persistent public health and security challenge and called for stronger multi agency intervention, treatment and rehabilitation.
In Kiambu, the county government says its supply suppression efforts involve the County Assembly, county departments and national agencies including the police, KEBS, Anti-Counterfeit Authority and the National Intelligence Service.
The latest proposals therefore seek to address both sides of the problem controlling illegal and harmful products while improving the county’s licensing and enforcement machinery.
For residents, the forthcoming public participation process is expected to provide an opportunity to scrutinise the proposed changes and suggest measures on licensing, inspections, laboratory testing, community oversight, enforcement, rehabilitation and protection of young people.
The Assembly will have to balance those demands with the rights of legitimate alcohol businesses and the legal responsibilities of national regulatory agencies.
With public participation now expected to shape the amendments, the debate is likely to shift from the Assembly floor to communities across Kiambu, where residents and industry stakeholders will have a chance to determine how the county’s alcohol control regime should be strengthened.
