DNK International By Sammy Kimatu,Kabiria.
Residents of Dagoretti South Constituency have called on the national government to declare the escalating abuse of illicit and counterfeit alcoholic drinks a national disaster, citing reported deaths among young people.
The residents said the problem has reached alarming levels across the constituency’s five wards despite ongoing crackdowns by police, chiefs and other local administrators targeting illegal brewing dens and unlicensed wine and spirit outlets.
Concerned parents, particularly mothers who said they had lost their children to alcohol related deaths, joined a peaceful demonstration demanding urgent government intervention.
The protest began at Gabby Centre in Kabiria and proceeded towards Waithaka, where residents identified several establishments they accused of selling illicit alcoholic drinks.
The residents issued a seven day notice to traders involved in the sale of the drinks and landlords accused of renting premises to such businesses to stop the practice.
They further called on authorities to enforce the law and shut down establishments operating illegally, warning that failure to act could trigger further community action.
Residents also expressed concern over the impact of alcohol abuse on families, saying the community burial site in Waithaka has received an increasing number of young people whose deaths they associate with the vice.
“Our community burial site at Waithaka is full of young youths from Dagoretti South who died due to this vice,” they said.
They urged the national and county governments, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to coordinate efforts to combat illicit alcohol, including stronger action against manufacturers, distributors and retailers.
“This is not a Dagoretti South affair but has now gripped the whole country. We appeal to the national government to declare it a national disaster in order to save our future generation,” the residents said.
They vowed to continue pressing authorities to address the problem and protect young people from the dangers associated with illicit and counterfeit alcoholic drinks.
[Daily News Kenya-International@October 1,2026]
