Former Kiambu Governor James Nyoro has challenged the national and county governments to move beyond publicized crackdowns on illicit alcohol and confront the criminal networks behind the trade, warning that destroying bottles and staging public raids will not end the crisis.
Dr Nyoro said the growing availability of illicit and potentially harmful alcoholic drinks in parts of Kiambu required a sustained, multi-agency response rather than isolated enforcement operations that often generate headlines but fail to dismantle the supply chains.
He argued that the authorities must begin by answering fundamental questions about the illicit alcohol trade, including who manufactures the drinks, who facilitates their distribution and how the products find their way into bars, shops and villages despite the presence of law enforcement and regulatory agencies.
“Public displays of leaders destroying illicit alcohol may make good headlines, but they do not solve the crisis,” Dr Nyoro said.
He called for investigations into the licensing and distribution systems surrounding alcohol outlets, saying authorities should establish how many licences linked to illegal trade have been cancelled and whether individuals or networks are financing or shielding the illicit business.
According to the former governor, the immediate response should involve both levels of government and local communities.
He urged the National and County Governments to treat illicit alcohol as a community disaster and establish a coordinated campaign involving the County Commissioner, police, chiefs, licensing authorities, county enforcement officers and local administrators.
Village elders, religious organisations, civil society groups and residents, he added, should also be incorporated into the response.
The proposal places responsibility beyond the police and county enforcement teams, arguing that the illicit alcohol problem cannot be contained if institutions operate independently or enforcement is only conducted periodically.
Dr Nyoro said accountability should run through the entire chain, from senior government officials to local administrators and community leaders.
He also questioned the effectiveness of raids that focus largely on destroying seized alcohol without pursuing those who manufacture, finance and distribute the products.
The former governor’s remarks come amid growing concern over the social and economic consequences of illicit alcohol, particularly among young people.
Dr Nyoro said enforcement alone would not provide a lasting solution unless the underlying economic conditions that make cheap alcohol attractive to some residents were addressed.
He identified unemployment, poverty and a lack of economic opportunities as some of the factors contributing to hopelessness among young people.
“The lasting solution is to create jobs and restore hope through investment, manufacturing, agriculture and value addition,” he said.
He proposed renewed attention to agricultural and industrial projects that could create employment and open markets for farmers.
Among the initiatives he cited was the proposed Muguga Agri-City, which he said could contribute to economic transformation if revived and properly implemented.
He also called for stronger value chains in coffee, tea, milk and avocado production, sectors with a significant presence in Kiambu and potential to generate incomes for farmers, traders and young people.
According to Dr Nyoro, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises through affordable financing, access to markets and programmes such as the Jiinue Fund would also help create alternatives for young people who might otherwise remain economically vulnerable.
The former governor further urged authorities to change the way alcohol abuse is viewed, saying addiction should not be treated solely as a criminal justice issue.
He called for increased investment in rehabilitation centres, counselling and other treatment services to help people already affected by alcohol dependency.
“Alcohol addiction must also be treated as a public health challenge,” he said, calling for the expansion of effective rehabilitation and counselling services.
This approach, he argued, would complement enforcement by addressing the demand side of the problem while authorities pursue those responsible for the illegal supply.
Dr Nyoro said Kiambu had no shortage of possible solutions to the illicit alcohol problem but lacked the sustained political and administrative commitment required to implement them.
He challenged leaders to move away from symbolic actions and focus on dismantling the networks responsible for producing and distributing illicit drinks.
“The solutions are known. What is missing is decisive leadership and sustained action,” he said.
He said Kiambu needed leaders prepared to confront powerful interests, create meaningful economic opportunities for young people and restore hope in communities affected by alcohol abuse.
For Dr Nyoro, the debate should therefore extend beyond the destruction of illicit alcohol seized during enforcement operations.
The bigger task, he said, is to identify and prosecute the people behind the trade, close loopholes that enable illegal businesses to operate, support communities struggling with addiction and build an economy capable of giving young people viable alternatives.
“That is the real elephant in the room,” he said.
