The former Naivasha lawmaker warned that this spelled doom for the country as unscrupulous traders are now packing lethal drinks in the cheap bottles which are easily accessible. “The quality of beer packaged in plastic bottles is always wanting and my appeal to the county government is to reject this law,” he said.
Speaking on phone, Mututho said the association was ready to work with county governments to address the issue of illicit brews and drugs. He said due to an increase in beers packaged in plastic bottles, minors were easily accessing the lethal drinks. “In the recent past we have noticed an increase in cases of minors consuming illicit brews and its time we fully dealt with this,” he said.
A gazette notice published in April amended the customs and excise act 2013 allowing brewers to pack their drinks in plastic or glass bottles. Part of the gazette notice outlawed the sale of beer in plastic bottles a move that was met with opposition from brewers who said they would incur huge losses. Mututho at the same time moved to assure traders and brewers involved in legal business that he had no fight with them.
“I do not have any quarrel with EABL, Keroche, bar owners and other stakeholders as far as they follow the laid down rules and regulations,” he said. At the same time, Mututho put on notice traders who are mixing their products with alcohol so as to increase sales. He identified bakers of cakes and chocolates as the most notorious ,adding that they will be tracked and arrested.
“We have noticed that some traders are using this method to entice their customers and they face closure if arrested,” he said. The former Naivasha MP has vowed to enforce the restriction on the opening hours for bars in his new role as Nacada chairman. Mututho said bar owners are flouting the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act 2010, which he marshalled through Parliament.
He was during a tour of the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drugs Abuse offices in Nairobi. “People now sell alcohol during hours that are contrary to what the law says,” Mututho said, adding that firm action would be taken against offenders. He also warned law enforcement officers would also be sacked if they are found abbeting crime by allowing bar owners to breach the law.
Mututho was appointed chairman of National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse to replace Dr Frank Njenga, whose five-year term expired. “I appoint John Mututho the chairman of Nacada board for a period of three years. The appointment of Dr Frank Njenga is revoked,” President Kenyatta said in a special issue of the Kenya Gazette.
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