Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has renewed calls for stringent alcohol control measures, emphasizing that the future of Kenya’s youth must come before profits. Speaking during a town hall meeting in Kajiado on Friday evening, Murkomen defended the government’s controversial proposals to raise the legal drinking age from 18 to 21, restrict alcohol sales near schools, and limit alcohol advertisements during children’s prime viewing hours.
“We said alcohol should not be sold next to schools and that alcohol ads should not run during children’s viewing hours. Suddenly, I faced criticism. Strangely, even church leaders did not come out to support me,” Murkomen noted with disappointment.
The CS expressed concern that some alcohol companies have openly admitted to earning profits from underage drinkers aged between 18 and 20, warning that such admissions point to a deeper societal crisis.
“It is troubling that some companies openly admit they are making profits from 18, 19, and 20-year-old youth. If it’s become normal to market alcohol to kids playing sports or watching TV, then we have a serious problem in this country,” he remarked.
Drawing comparisons to global practices, Murkomen referenced his time studying in Washington, D.C., where the legal drinking age is strictly enforced. “In the U.S., if you want to drink, you must be at least 21 and show your ID. No club lets you in without proper identification. Why should it be different in Kenya?” he posed.
Addressing concerns that tighter regulations could negatively impact the economy, Murkomen insisted that safeguarding public health and the nation’s future must take precedence.
“Some argue that regulations will collapse the economy. But we must regulate alcohol even if it’s good alcohol. Whether we receive support or not, we will push ahead with this policy,” he declared.
Murkomen urged religious leaders, civil society, and all stakeholders to back the government’s efforts, stressing, “We cannot prioritize profit over our children’s lives. We must remain firm in protecting Kenyans, especially the youth, from the dangers of unregulated alcohol consumption.”
