Gitonga Mukunji Warns Illicit Alcohol Threatens Kenya’s Youth and Democracy

By Violet Kerubo

Manyatta Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Kenyan Young Parliamentarians Association (KYPA), Hon. Gitonga Mukunji, has raised alarm over the rising spread of illicit alcohol in Kenya, warning that the menace is destroying young lives, families and the country’s economic future.
Speaking during a press briefing at Parliament Buildings, Mukunji described the situation as a national threat, noting that Kenya has a predominantly youthful population, with about 80 per cent of Kenyans aged below 35.
He said illicitly brewed and adulterated alcohol was increasingly finding its way into communities across the country, with devastating consequences including deaths, addiction, crime, broken families and reduced productivity.
Mukunji cited the recent deaths of four young people in the Kangara area of his constituency, saying the tragedy highlighted the devastating human cost of the illicit alcohol crisis.
“Behind every statistic is a mother burying a son, a family stripped of a breadwinner and a community robbed of its future,” he said.
The legislator also warned that the illicit alcohol trade was depriving the government of billions of shillings in potential tax revenue while increasing pressure on public healthcare facilities and hurting legitimate businesses.
Alcohol and politics
Mukunji expressed concern over what he described as the alleged use of cheap and illicit alcohol to influence young voters during political campaigns.
Referring to a recent by-election in Ol Kalou, he said he witnessed large numbers of young people intoxicated by cheap liquor, raising questions about their ability to make independent political choices.
“When a voter is handed a bottle instead of a manifesto, we must ask what kind of democracy is this?” he posed.
He said the use of alcohol and other inducements during elections undermines the constitutional right of citizens to freely make political choices.
Mukunji called on Parliament to strengthen laws targeting the manufacture, distribution and sale of illicit alcohol and introduce tougher penalties for producers and distributors who target vulnerable groups, particularly minors.
He further urged the government to increase funding for rehabilitation, youth empowerment and public awareness programmes while calling on political leaders to reject the use of alcohol as a campaign tool.
The MP also called on the Ministry of Interior and National Administration to intensify enforcement against networks involved in the production and distribution of illicit alcohol.
Mukunji condemns journalist’s abduction
During the briefing, Mukunji also strongly condemned the reported abduction of Standard Media journalist Alex Kiprotich, calling for greater protection of journalists in Kenya.
“I want to condemn it in the strongest terms possible. It is unacceptable for journalists to be harmed in whatever capacity,” he said.
Speaking from his own experience as a victim of abduction, Mukunji said attacks against journalists threaten the foundations of democracy because the media plays a critical role in informing the public, exposing wrongdoing and holding institutions accountable.
He called on security agencies and other stakeholders to ensure journalists can carry out their constitutional duties without fear, intimidation or harm.
Mukunji said the protection of journalists must remain a priority in a democratic society, particularly as media practitioners continue to investigate and report on issues that powerful individuals and institutions may prefer to keep hidden.