Governor defends county law allowing consumption of busaa

Governor Ken Lusaka has defended the move by the county to allow consumption and sale of traditional brews.

Mr Lusaka stated that the claim by the Interior ministry that the county’s law allowing the brewing and taking of busaa was illegal did not hold water.

He said that Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho’s move to denounce the county law was ill-advised and called upon him to clearly read the by-laws.

The governor stated that the County Alcoholic Drinks Act, 2015, was arrived at after a very long consultative process involving all stakeholders.

On Monday, Dr Kibicho had stated that the Act passed by the Assembly was inappropriate as well as an illegality.

The PS stated that busaa was still regarded as an illicit brew and no county by-law can contradict the State laws.

However, the governor noted that they had provided a framework within the by-laws to ensure responsible drinking among locals.

“We encourage Bungoma people to consume high quality traditional liquor such as busaa. But this should be done responsibly and at the right time,” he said.

Mr Lusaka added: “We cannot afford to harass and exploit the poor and the vulnerable in Bungoma yet the affluent consume beers in high-end places. There is nothing like civilised or uncivilised drunkenness.”

The county boss lamented that the government was fighting traditional brews yet neighbouring countries were busy promoting their traditional liquor.

“Tanzania has Konyagi. Uganda has Waragi. Why are we expending so much energy on killing our own busaa?” he posed.