KAJIADO, Kenya – Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has criticised church leaders for failing to support the government’s proposed crackdown on underage and harmful alcohol consumption, accusing them of abandoning their moral duty to protect the youth.
Speaking during a public event in Kajiado on Friday, Murkomen said he was dismayed by the silence of religious institutions on key proposals by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), including raising the legal drinking age from 18 to 21 and banning alcohol sales near schools and playgrounds.
“I’ve not heard any church leader stand up to support this policy. And yet they are the ones who preach about protecting the youth,” Murkomen remarked.
The Cabinet Secretary questioned why the same religious leaders who regularly preach about morality and societal values have been quiet as the government pushes reforms aimed at shielding young Kenyans from the damaging effects of alcohol and drug abuse.
Murkomen defended the proposals, arguing that Kenya’s current regulatory environment is failing to protect children, with alcohol often advertised during daytime TV and sold in proximity to learning institutions and recreational areas.
“We said alcohol should not be consumed at one, two or three o’clock when children are watching television and see people advertising alcohol,” he said.
“It should not be sold or consumed in places where children go to play or train.”
The CS backed NACADA’s push to increase the legal drinking age to 21, challenging arguments that the move would harm business profits.
“Companies shamelessly say they’ll make less profit if alcohol is restricted to those over 21. Are we really okay making profits from 18-, 19-, and 20-year-olds?” he posed.
Murkomen dismissed concerns from alcohol manufacturers and traders that the proposed measures could hurt the economy, insisting that the government’s priority is public health.
“If we can justify selling alcohol near schools and advertising it during prime time when all children are watching, then we have a serious problem as a country.”
He cited international standards, such as those in the United States, where enforcement of legal drinking age laws is strict, and clubs require valid identification for entry and service.
“We must regulate alcohol, even if it’s good alcohol, because our priority is protecting the people of Kenya,” Murkomen said.
The Interior CS emphasised that the government is fully committed to implementing the new National Policy on the Prevention of Alcohol, Drugs and Substance Use (2025), which outlines sweeping reforms to curb the growing crisis of substance abuse, particularly among Kenya’s youth.
Key provisions in the draft policy include:
- Prohibiting alcohol sales near schools, playgrounds, and religious institutions
- Restricting alcohol advertising to post-watershed hours
- Increasing the legal drinking age to 21
- Introducing tougher enforcement and monitoring mechanisms
Murkomen’s remarks reflect growing frustration within government ranks over what officials see as insufficient support from civil society, particularly faith-based organisations, on a policy that could reshape the social landscape for Kenya’s next generation.
“We need everyone—parents, teachers, clergy, leaders—to step up. This is not just about alcohol; it’s about the kind of country we want to build,” he concluded.
