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Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has called out church leaders for failing to support government-backed efforts to combat alcohol and substance abuse, particularly the recently proposed tough measures by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).
Speaking during an event in Kajiado on Friday, Murkomen expressed disappointment over what he termed as the church’s silence amid public backlash against NACADA’s proposed policies, which were unveiled on July 30, 2025. The measures aim to curb aggressive alcohol marketing and reduce youth access to alcohol and drugs.
The proposals include raising the legal drinking age from 18 to 21, banning celebrities and public figures from endorsing alcohol brands, and prohibiting alcohol-related promotions in settings involving youth, such as schools, universities, sports events, and entertainment platforms. NACADA also suggested banning alcohol advertisements on audiovisual platforms during watershed hours and outlawing promotional strategies like discounts, giveaways, and prize-based competitions.
Murkomen questioned why religious leaders, who are often vocal on moral issues, failed to support the policy aimed at protecting young people. He singled out gospel artist and preacher Dr. Reuben Kigame for allegedly ignoring the matter and instead focusing on legal efforts to privately prosecute him and other officials over deaths during the 2024 Gen Z-led protests.
“We launched NACADA’s policy, and now I’m on the headlines accused of wanting to destroy the country. Yet, not a single church leader stood up to defend me,” said Murkomen. “Some of them are more concerned about prosecuting government officials than protecting the youth from alcoholism. Do they want alcohol sold everywhere?”
The CS also dismissed economic arguments made by critics of the policy, suggesting they were driven by profit motives rather than concern for public health. He questioned the rationale behind allowing youth aged 18–20 to consume alcohol, stating that such policies expose vulnerable groups to harm.
“These companies want to profit off 18- to 20-year-olds,” Murkomen argued. “We are simply saying: let them wait until they are 21. Is that too much to ask?”
Murkomen reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fighting drug and substance abuse, vowing not to back down despite opposition.
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