By Alloys Musyoka
The Caucus of liquor licensing and control boards has criticized NACADA for coming up with a policy aimed at taking away county governments mandate against the constitution.
The NACADA proposed Alcohol, drugs and substances abuse policy 2025 has rubbed stakeholders in the country the wrong way.
Speaking in Diani-Kwale county, the caucus said that they will not allow anyone to muzzle county governments powers as enshrined in the constitution.
They said that the alcoholic drinks control act 2010 places responsibility of liquor licensing and regulations squarely within the mandate of the county governments.
βThe proposal to centralize licensing at the national level is a matter of grave concern. Such move will erode devolution and contradicts schedule 4 of the constitution which assigns the function
to counties and strips counties of critical revenues that fund enforcement, public health campaigns and community services,β said Julias Owino-Kenya Caucus on liquor licensing and control board chair.
Owino said that the move will also create duplication and confusion between the national and county agencies and undermine efficiency.
He said that Liquor licensing is not just a mere administrative task but a core function of county governance and local accountability.
βWe therefore firmly oppose any attempts to recentralize licensing powers and instead we advocate for a collaborative framework where NACADA provide policy direction, standards and technical support while counties retain licensing, regulations and enforcement,β added Owino.
The stakeholders said that there is a need for both levels of governments to engage in joint planning, monitoring and reporting.
On Licensing and related fees, the caucus said that they are an important source of counties own source revenue and therefore centralizing them will deny counties millions of revenue, destabilize their ability to finance enforcement and social programs.
The caucus welcomed the policyβs focus on prevention, education and rehabilitation saying it aligns with county-level initiatives since counties are already spearheading awareness campaigns supporting
rehabilitation, enforcement and compliance.
On implementation practices the stakeholders said that proposals such as zoning restriction, online sales ban and advertising controls require broad based stakeholder consultations.
βWe call for a phased consultative and context-sensitive rollout that balances livelihoods with public health priorities,β added Owino.
Alcoholic beverages association of Kenya chair Samuel Matano said that they are ready to engage with NACADA and the ministry of interior to align national policy with devolved functions.
They are also ready to work with county assemblies to strengthen local alcohol control laws and promote responsible trade and public safety while safeguarding county autonomy and revenue.
Kwale county liquor board director Richard Onsongo accused NACADA of having an appetite to take over county functions saying that as stakeholders in the liquor business they will not allow it.
βHow do you propose to do zoning while in Nairobi and leave out liquor boards that know the places more. Some of the NACADA policy proposals are just laughable and cannot be allowed,β he said.
Teen swatch center rehabilitation center director Cosmas Maina took issue with the NAACADA proposal saying that 30 percent of liquor proceeds should be used at least 3 percent to run drug abuse reduction, HIV programs and education in counties.
