Raila Odinga, the head of the opposition, has asked the government to employ young people addicted to alcohol rather than imprison them.

During a town hall meeting in Muranga on Thursday, he stated that young people are drinking alcohol due to a lack of work.

"Sasa mtu mwingine anakuja anakuja anaanza kusema vijana waache kukunywa pombe washikwe," says the speaker. Raila stated, "Vijana wanakunywa pombe kwa sababu hawana kazi."

(Another person stated that young people should cease consuming alcohol and be arrested. Due to a shortage of employment opportunities, young people are drinking alcohol.)


He claims that if young people have jobs, they will stop drinking. Otherwise, they would continue to drink to distract themselves from their troubles.

"Apana shika mtu ati yeye amekunywa pombe," says the speaker. Patia kazi yeye. Patia yeye kazi pombe atawacha. When did you get your chochote and kufanya atafanya? Si apige pige tu, si apige pige tu. Raila said, "Ili asahau shida yake."

(Do not arrest someone for ingesting alcoholic beverages. Give them a job, and they will quit drinking. However, if there is nothing he can do, allow him to continue drinking)

He added that the administration needs to be more aware of Kenyans' problems.

On April 14, 2023, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua met with Mount Kenya leaders to encourage them to tackle the alcohol and drug misuse epidemic.


The unlicensed alcohol-selling joints, according to Gachagua, are to blame for the high rate of drug abuse.

He described the situation as catastrophic, claiming that the region was at risk of losing an entire generation to the disease, particularly in five central Kenya districts.