Mututho roots for traditional brews
Traditional alcoholic brews that meet required hygienic standards could soon be licensed.
National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) chairman John Mututho has recommended consumption of such brews but only if they met the set benchmarks.
“These liquors are safe as long as brewers observe internationally recognised industrial hygienic standards,” he said.
He was speaking at Munyu-ini shopping centre in Gatundu South on Saturday during an inspection of Croton Herbs Company Ltd which has been producing the Croton Beer, a traditional Kikuyu alcoholic drink locally known as Muratina.
He was accompanied by Gatundu North MP Francis Kigo and Kiambu County’s chief officer in charge of public administration, Mr Dominic Gicheru.
DRINKING HABITS
Mr Mututho said Kiambu County was a major consumer of alcohol in the country.
He appealed to churches and government officials to chip in and try to check residents’ drinking habits.
The legislation – Mututho Law – that he introduced in 2007 to control drinking hours has brought sanity, reduced crime and helped rebuilt broken homes, he said and congratulated security agencies for enforcing it.
Mr Kigo called on the banning of third generation alcoholic drinks saying they were lethal.
He also asked the county government to open rehabilitation centres to take care of those whose lives have been affected by alcohol abuse.
Mr Gicheru said Kiambu Governor William Kabogo had ordered a major operation to stamp out illicit liquors in the county.