Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has slammed church leaders for their silence on new government policies aimed at combating alcohol and drug abuse among the youth. Speaking in Kajiado on Friday, Murkomen expressed disappointment that religious leaders often vocal on moral issues have not publicly supported the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA)’s proposed reforms.
“I’ve not heard any church leader stand up to support this policy. And yet they are the ones who preach about protecting the youth,” he remarked.
The proposed measures, contained in the draft National Policy on the Prevention of Alcohol, Drugs and Substance Use (2025), include raising the legal drinking age from 18 to 21, banning alcohol sales near schools and playgrounds, and restricting advertising during children’s television hours. Murkomen defended the proposals as necessary for safeguarding the health and moral development of young Kenyans.
“If we can justify selling alcohol near schools and advertising it during prime time when all children are watching, then we have a serious problem as a country,” he stated.
He dismissed concerns that the regulations would negatively impact the economy, saying public health and the wellbeing of youth must take precedence over profits. Murkomen also questioned the ethics of marketing alcohol to those aged 18 to 20, arguing that companies should not profit at the expense of young lives.
Using the United States as a global benchmark, Murkomen noted that stricter age enforcement and venue controls have proven effective. He affirmed the government’s commitment to implementing the new NACADA policy, despite resistance from vested interests.
His remarks highlight growing government frustration over muted institutional support, especially from the church, for a policy widely seen as critical to addressing Kenya’s escalating alcohol abuse crisis.
