Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has ordered security teams at the Coast Region to arrest and prosecute barons of narcotics within 14 days.

While closing a consultative conference on alcohol and drug abuse at the ASK Grounds, Mombasa County, Gachagua said that the government is committed to eradicating crime.

“Within two weeks, we must get rid of this problem, we want to see people in court.”

“The issue of orders from above and phone calls ended on September 13, 2022 when President William Ruto was sworn in. The President cannot make a call allowing drugs, and I cannot. This is not my war. I was asked to lead by the President because we cannot lose a generation,” he added.

According to the DP, the Coast Region is among the most affected by the consumption of narcotics, mostly hard drugs, which the government seeks to eradicate.

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The consultative meeting established the need for proper enforcement of the laws regulating the sale of alcohol and eradicating narcotics.

The DP called on the regional security teams to utilize the penal code, CPC, and Evidence Act to deal with the menace.

“The problem by and large is enforcement. Hizi madawa wenye kuuza mnajua, pahali zinapitia mnajua, vile zinauzwa mnajua. Tunataka kusikia ya kwamba kazi imefanyika. Mko na vitabu yote tatu ya kufanya kazi penal code, CPC, evidence act fanyeni kazi yenu.”

Further, he tasked the Pharmacy and Poisons Board to map out pharmacies and chemists operating illegally, which the national government will shut down.

 “Pharmacy and poison’s board, map out the licensed outlets utupatie, we shall close the rest for you.”

Among the resolutions identified is asking the National government administration officers to deal with the menace at the grassroots.

“We are going to work on the mechanism to reinstate authority for our chief’s administratively and make sure our NGAO officers are supported by armed officers so that we containcrimes.”

The Deputy President also called on NACADA to properly assess the veracity of the menace in the community to allow the government to make informed and accurate decisions.