Deputy President Kithure Kindiki speaks in Limuru, Kiambu County on October 2, 2026./AMOS NJAUDeputy President Kithure Kindiki has issued a stern warning to traders manufacturing and selling harmful alcoholic drinks, saying the government will intensify its crackdown and bring those endangering lives to account.
Kindiki said authorities would not allow traders to sell poisonous substances to Kenyans under the guise of alcohol, warning that those involved would be arrested and prosecuted.
“I am warning those selling harmful drinks that their days are numbered. We will come for you. I assure you that we will not allow anyone to sell poisonous drinks in the name of alcohol to our people,” the Deputy President said.
Kindiki spoke Friday at the Limuru Milk Processing Plant grounds in Kiambu county, where he flagged off milk coolers for dairy cooperative societies in the region.
The deputy president, who previously served as Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary, said the government had intensified efforts to eliminate illicit and harmful alcoholic drinks from the market.
He said some of those involved operate without formal premises and manufacture the drinks by mixing chemicals before distributing them to unsuspecting consumers.
“Some do not even have premises. They just mix chemicals and sell to Kenyans. We are coming for you. We have fought Al-Shabaab and bandits, we cannot be defeated by illicit alcohol traders,” he said.
Kindiki said orders had been issued for the inspection of alcoholic drink manufacturing premises to establish whether they meet quality and public health requirements.
“We are going to inspect all the alcoholic manufacturers’ premises to ensure they are in compliance with quality and public health standards before they take their products to the market,” he said.
He said the crackdown would extend beyond Kiambu to other parts of the country, citing recent deaths linked to harmful alcoholic drinks in the region.
“We lost our people recently here in Kiambu and previously in Kirinyaga. We will not allow anyone to threaten the lives of Kenyans through sale of harmful drinks,” Kindiki said.
The Deputy President said he would support efforts to address the problem following appeals by elders from the Mt Kenya region.
Kindiki also used the event to highlight government interventions in the dairy sector, saying 227 milk coolers had so far been distributed to farmers across the country.
The equipment is intended to reduce milk wastage, improve storage and support processing and value addition, thereby increasing farmers’ earnings.
Kiambu has received 13 of the coolers at a cost of Sh98.14 million, with more than 21,500 dairy farmers expected to benefit.
The government estimates that the equipment will help save 15.7 million litres of milk from wastage annually, translating into an estimated Sh769 million in additional earnings for farmers.
“The best way to increase earnings for milk farmers is to ensure there are no losses from waste. This was among our commitments to milk farmers during our campaigns before the last elections,” Kindiki said.
He attributed the increase in milk production to interventions in the dairy sector, saying Kenya had become Africa’s largest producer of processed milk.
“We are committed to meeting our bargain with the milk farmers. That is why milk production has gone up significantly. Today, Kenya is the largest producer of processed milk in Africa,” he said.
On politics, Kindiki urged residents of the Mt Kenya region to reject incitement and remain united despite differences in political choices.
He said political differences should not result in violence or conflict among communities.
“We must be united. Incitement and violence is not politics. It is criminal and unacceptable. We should not accept to fight each other because of politics,” he said.
Kindiki said the government is implementing projects worth Sh52 billion in Kiambu, including 29 modern markets, housing projects and hostels.
He said several roads had been completed while others were under construction, with the planned expansion of the Muthaiga Roundabout-Kiambu Town road nearing completion.
The Deputy President was accompanied by Limuru MP Chege Kiragu, Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a, Lari MP Mburu Kahangara, Kiambu Woman Representative Anne Wamuratha, Kiambaa MP Njuguna Kawanjiku and other leaders.
Livestock Development Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke also attended the event.
