Confusion over fate of Nacada

Confusion surrounded the fate of the national anti-drug agency after a meeting at State House on Wednesday demanded its immediate disbandment.

Meanwhile, Central Kenya MPs were told to start a four-day crackdown against killer brews.

An initial statement from State House declared the National Authority for Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) had been disbanded, meaning that its board and management had been sent home.

The PSCU statement stated: “President Uhuru  Kenyatta has  disbanded Nacada and directed MPs to lead the war against illicit brews in their  constituencies in Central Kenya.”

A few minutes later, PSCU sent another statement, clarifying that the Nacada board, chaired by Mr John Mututho has not been dissolved.

“This is to inform all editors that the Nacada Board has not been disbanded as earlier indicated in our previous PSCU story. We apologise for that,” they said.

But TV clips from the meeting showed the President saying: “Nacada Board, hiyo imepotea (it is lost).”

However, some of the MPs who attended the meeting but could not named were categorical that they recommended the disbanding of the Nacada Board and the management, blaming their infighting for the failure to fight killer brews in Central Kenya.

“Because of the current infighting, we recommended both the board and management be disbanded. We were very clear that both are responsible for the crisis of killer brews in our region. A new team needs to be reconstituted,” said one of the MPs.

President Kenyatta is only allowed by the law to recommend to Interior Affairs Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery to send home the Nacada board and the management.

He cannot disband it since it is was created by an Act of Parliament.

The President had also revoked all licences for bars and other outlets selling  the killer  second generation brews in the region and given the  MPs four days to “clean” Central Kenya of the illicit drinks.

The campaign starts on Friday.