Embakasi East Member of Parliament Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino has opposed the approach being used in the fight against illicit brew.
The Embakasi lawmaker stated instead of banning the illicit brew, they should control its consumption.
“I am not in support of the fight on the illicit brew. I support those selling illicit brew to control it so that it is not in excess,” he said.
“I can never fight those selling any illicit brew because it is what made me who I am. But we can control the consumption. How people use it.” He added during an interview with TV47 on Thursday, June 22.
As such, Babu Owino urged the government to provide jobs to discourage the making and trading of illicit brew.
“These women, the men, the families selling illicit brew, let them be given an alternative. They can be given jobs by the government,” he said.
Moreover, the Embakasi member of parliament recalled how he was brought up in a household that survived on the sale of illicit brew.
He narrated that his mother became a widow when he was in Class 3. She embarked on selling Chang’aa with her son’s help to make ends meet.
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Babu Owino further said they used to earn Sh300 for the 500 ml bottle, meaning they needed to sell enough bottles to pay for rent and fees. As such, Babu noted they did not have enough to save.
“We are three in the family. I am the last born… Mum resolved to sell chang’aa to help us go through life. Through chang’aa we could get money to pay our bills, rent, and medicine which was mostly panadol, through chang’aa we could get clothing, food and education,” stated the Embakasi MP.
This comes after the deputy president launched a campaign against illicit brew and substance consumption in which he ordered a countrywide crackdown.
The move by DP Gachagua has seen the shutdown of more than 5,000 liquor outlets for noncompliance with legal framework.
