Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has launched a scathing attack on Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, accusing him of political theatrics and hypocrisy in the government’s fight against drug abuse and illicit alcohol.
Speaking on Thursday, Gachagua dismissed Murkomen’s recent comments at a NACADA forum, where the CS cited enforcement challenges among grassroots administrators, including chiefs and police officers, as the key hindrance to addressing drug and alcohol abuse.
“There is no alcohol or drugs sold in Kenya without the support and knowledge of the chief and the OCS,” Murkomen had said, calling for more responsibility at the local level.
However, Gachagua challenged that narrative, insisting that the government already possesses sufficient legal tools to deal with the crisis — but lacks the political will to enforce them.
“Drama and loftiness won’t help. We have sufficient laws and other regulations on alcohol. Implement them. Spare Kenyans the joke and get to work,” Gachagua said.
He recalled his time in office, during which he claimed to have spearheaded practical and results-driven interventions that drastically curbed the production and sale of illicit alcohol. According to Gachagua, the measures not only reduced addiction cases but also increased government revenue through higher excise duty collections, as more Kenyans consumed legal, tax-compliant alcohol.
He accused unnamed government officials of sabotaging the progress made, which has since led to the resurgence of illegal brewers and increased addiction rates in various parts of the country.
“What do you intend to do differently from what had successfully been done?” he asked pointedly.
Gachagua also lamented the alleged withdrawal of funding from a national rehabilitation initiative led by his wife, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi. He said the programme had helped thousands of young people overcome addiction before the support was cut off.
According to the former DP, the war on alcohol and drug abuse had been on course until political interference reversed the gains. He urged the government to stop the blame game and simply enforce the laws already in place.
