Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen speaking during an interdenominational church service at AIC Visha Oshwal Comprehensive School grounds, Kabarnet, Baringo County, September 20, 2026. /MINA
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has blamed poor parenting for the growing abuse of illicit alcohol among young people, saying families must take greater responsibility for guiding children before seeking government intervention.
Murkomen said some parents had failed to provide adequate guidance and supervision, leaving their children vulnerable to alcohol addiction and other forms of substance abuse.
“As parents, let's not wait for police to bring up our children,” he said during an interdenominational church service at AIC Visha Oshwal Comprehensive School grounds in Kabarnet, Baringo county, on Sunday.
Murkomen said the problem could not be addressed by the police and other government agencies alone, urging parents to spend more time with their children and counsel them on responsible behaviour.
“By the time a chief intervenes at home, things would have worsened. Let us spend time with our children, that is how we will deal with alcohol addiction and wayward behaviour,” he said.
The CS said some parents had resorted to asking the government to intervene after their children became addicted to alcohol, yet the first line of intervention should be within the family.
“Before the CS, the police and the government intervene, let us not forget our responsibility to sit down with our children and counsel them on the right path they should take. The next stage is the State and we will do our best, we will fight the criminals, but guidance, counselling, presence, we must be present in our family.”
Murkomen's remarks come amid an intensified government crackdown on illicit alcohol manufacturers, suppliers and distributors.
The government has said security agencies are targeting the wider networks behind the illegal trade, including manufacturers and transporters.
Unsafe and adulterated alcohol can cause serious health complications, including poisoning, blindness and death.
Kenya's State of National Security report has also linked illicit alcohol to serious public health and security risks, noting that some unscrupulous brewers use toxic substances in the production of illicit brews.
Murkomen challenged parents and other members of the community to complement government enforcement efforts by promoting responsible and morale behaviour at home.
The CS said attending church should be accompanied by good conduct in the wider community.
“That is when we will become real Christians. Let us not be Christians who come to sing in church on Sundays and on Monday, they're into corruption, selling illicit brew and engaging in other bad behaviour. Let's focus on what we can do to change our country.”
The Sunday sermon was delivered by Bishop Emeritus Jackson Kosgei and was based on Genesis 12:7, which emphasises remaining steadfast in the worship of God so that He may bless the land for generations to come.
Also present were Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi, Senator Kiprono Chemitei, Baringo Central MP Joshua Kandie, MCAs and other leaders.
Research commissioned by the Alcoholic Beverages Association of Kenya and conducted by Euromonitor International found that Kenyan adults consumed an average of 3.6 litres of pure illicit alcohol in 2024, compared with 2.5 litres of legal alcohol.
The affordability and accessibility of illicit alcohol have been identified as key factors driving its consumption, while the unregulated nature of the trade increases the risk of exposure to unsafe products.
Murkomen has previously warned manufacturers and suppliers of illicit alcohol that security agencies were intensifying operations against the illegal trade, with authorities targeting those involved in manufacturing, distribution and financing.
The CS has also warned security and national government administration officials against facilitating the illicit alcohol trade, as the government steps up efforts to dismantle the networks behind it.
