Consumption of illicit brews in Nyeri has been identified as a possible link to dwindling numbers of learners in public schools.

Nyeri County Commissioner Josephat Biwott says some of the public schools in the area have been recording declining numbers of students over the years, a challenge that could be attributed to consumption of counterfeit brews.

Biwott who was addressing the public on the sidelines of this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations at Ihururu Grounds in Tetu warned that unless locals assist security agents in eradicating the vice from the area, the fate of future generations is at stake.

“The current decline in school enrolment in parts of the county is partly attributed to rampant consumption of counterfeit alcohol. For instance, in Tetu alone 13 Junior Secondary Schools have enrolled less than 50 learners with some hosting as few as 17 and 18 pupils. In some of our schools there are less than 20 learners while seven of our Secondary Schools are hosting less than 50 students. So grave is the challenge that one of our Schools in Mukurwe-ini which used to hold 1,100 learners in the 1990s now holds a partly 80 students laying bare the seriousness of the problem,” disclosed the Biwott.

The administrator also challenged politicians to join the government in addressing the problem of falling numbers of learners, insisting they cannot afford to sit on the fence over the matter and hope to get any votes during future elections.

He termed it hypocritical for politicians to brag about how they command millions of votes in their backyard while the situation on the ground indicates many of their perceived voters have been taken captive by alcoholism and substance abuse.

“We hear politicians speaking of how they have millions of votes under their belt which they hope to use to win elective seats in the coming general poll. Unfortunately, these politicians fail to understand votes come from sober Kenyans and not men who have been ruined captive by illicit brews. The only way we can talk about votes is by ensuring that no counterfeit beer is sold to our people at any given time” he stated.

Biwott also urged local administrators including village elders to work with the community in identifying individuals involved in the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit brews in their areas.

He announced that before the end of the year, the Government will release a list of all bars in the county found flouting the stipulated regulations with a view of blacklisting them.

He also disclosed that security agents will continue carrying out impromptu sting operations in all sub counties targeting places suspected to be distributing counterfeit brews to unsuspecting revelers and ensure such culprits are arraigned before court of law.

Biwott’s announcement comes days after a multi-agency team dismantled a counterfeit alcohol manufacturing syndicate in Ruring’u where drinks valued at Sh2 million were seized.

The team which was led by Nyeri Deputy County Commissioner Ngunyi Maina also arrested two suspects at the scene believed to be employees at the depot.

The multi-agency team which comprised of national government security officers,

county government enforcement officers and recovered two pressing machines used to seal bottle tops, assorted bottle caps, alcohol brand stickers, fake Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) stamps worth about Sh250,000, plastic mixing drums that are used for mixing the ingredients and dozens of jerry cans which authorities said could have been used to transport the ethanol.

They also seized 10 kilograms of citric acid, bottle stickers valued at Sh150,000, several consignments of already packaged alcoholic drinks, bearing labels of Star Ice, Apple Ice, Diamond Ice and Taifa Ice.

On politics, the County Commissioner called upon politicians to be at the forefront in rallying the public in upholding peaceful coexistence ahead of the forthcoming campaigns.

He said political leaders carry the highest responsibility in ensuring the country remains peaceful at all times and should never deviate from this trust regardless of political difference.

“As the County Security Committee we have absolutely no problem with politicians conducting their campaigns since we are Government officers and not aligned to any political formation. However, our advice to politicians who wish to conduct meetings is to ensure they inform the nearest Officer Commanding Police Station and secure a permit to continue with such forums. We cannot allow politicians who want to go ahead and hold political meetings without giving   notifications to security organs and later use the same gatherings to incite their followers against their opponents,” cautioned Biwott.

He also urged the youth to refrain from being misused by leaders to go and cause chaos during political meetings since such incidents will only bring them in conflict with security personnel.

By Samuel Maina and Wangari Mwangi