{"id":706728,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/706728/?format=json","text_counter":152,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Bunyasi","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":2511,"legal_name":"John Sakwa Bunyasi","slug":"john-sakwa-bunyasi"},"content":"and drug abuse. I do not know whether this will be a mission that will ever succeed. I say that with great confidence because I do not think that the goals have been clearly defined. Recently, we had a spike in these issues and we had vigilante groups that went around destroying alcohol around the country. It was clear that some of it was mischievous and intended to suppress certain entrepreneurs. For as long as we have that kind of confusion, we will not succeed in an important area like this. The process of control must not be driven either by faith- based organisations or by extreme opinions. We have to define clearly whether we are chasing a health objective so that our population is not embroiled in these problems, or whether we are playing to the whims of, perhaps, foreign investors who spent the entire history of this country - not just after Independence - trying to suppress local entrepreneurship in respect of alcohol production and distribution so that the colonial brands would be promoted. We have not yet come out of this and clearly defined what exactly we want. We must not allow this to continue to suppress the local industry. For example, in Uganda, Chang’aa was widely produced and instead of going down with the hammer, they industrialized the production of that commodity and managed to bring it to the mainstream where there is standardization. It was then produced at consistent levels whose normal consumption was consistent with fair health standards. It is very important for us to ask ourselves where we can do promotion and where we can use the law. I do not think that we should be driven by the narrow interests but divergent. As I said, it might be used as a way of frustrating the efforts that are in place. We have problems as the peri-urban and certain rural areas have unique challenges on this issue in Kenya. It is not true that it is the same all over the country. I think that generalization is, again, another cover up simply intended not to come out clear and say: “Here, we have a problem. Here we have a similar problem but of a different nature.” If we do that, we will get solutions that deal with those problems in the areas where they occur. Where I come from, there is a lot of production of Chang’aa and they call it illicit, but it is not a killer brew. You can die drinking beer, water or tea. I think we have to look at it carefully, define our goals and help NACADA implement this goal successfully. As it is now, we are simply filling up a parastatal opportunity that I fear will not achieve the goals. I support the appointment of Lt. Col. Githiri. I know that by virtue of his upbringing, he is going to bring discipline-driven approach to this. However, perhaps, beyond discipline-driven approach to this, we should think clearly about science-driven approach as well. We should think about an approach that is health-driven and the counselling and guiding approach and not one of raiding facilities. I think that is a pretty basic way of trying to manage a national level programme. I think the good Lt. Col. Githiri will be well placed in terms of defining goals and matching resources. As I finish, I do not think that even the most genius of chairmen that we might get can drive this agenda by themselves. It will all depend on the board and the management team that is in place. It is sad that in the previous dispensation of the previous Chairman, there were conflicts between the Chair and the Board and the Board and the management. There is something out there that is not right. It might not just lie in the chairmen, no matter how good they are. It is important that the Committee also looks deeply at how to get the NACADA administration and agency working up and down with the cohesive goal that needs to be defined so that when we get the chairman, he is a team captain for a working team. I think we are putting too many expectations on this chairman. I do not see how this chairman will succeed when these other things are not in line. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."}