Manyatta MP blames rising toxic liquor consumption on graft tolerance » Capital News

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 15 — Manyatta Member of Parliament John Mukunji has blamed the government for the increasing rate of toxic alcohol consumption in the country blaming the situation on corruption in the alcohol industry.

Speaking in Embu, the lawmaker stressed that the government’s reluctance to deal with the few individuals who are the main suppliers of second-generation alcohol has highly contributed to the accelerating rate of consumption of illicit alcohol in the country.

“On behalf of the government of Kenya, we have failed our young people as a government, because we have allowed people to make money against the life of our young people,” the lawmaker remarked.

“I want to apologize, it is the laxity of government and because of corruption that our young people are addicted,” he stated.

The MP blamed unnamed “alcohol cartels” for taking advantage of the “partying nature of Kenyans” which has in turn prompted them to add toxic materials in alcohol to increase the addiction rate.

He has however appreciated President William Ruto and Deputy Rigathi Gachagua, for the bold move to address the menace.

“In a special way, I want to appreciate the deputy President. It is normally very unpopular politically to talk about alcohol, but this time, history will judge you right,” he stated.

He stressed that this act is unfair and will “attract curses” on individuals peddling illicit liquor even as he urged for compassion on people battling addiction.

“Some few billionaires have taken advantage of partying and are putting poison into the bottles in the name of second-generation alcohol so that when you drink today tomorrow you must drink again,” he said.

The MP stressed that illicit brews have impeded educated youths from achieving anything in life, slowing the country’s economic growth.

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