Murang’a governor bans alcohol adverts, promotions

Murang’a county governor has issued a directive banning all alcohol promotion and adverts in the county.

Speaking in Murang’a Town after visiting the county’s rehabilitation centre, Mwangi wa Iria said that it was wrong for manufacturers to take advantage of the war against alcoholism to market their brands.

He said that the directive was part of the on-going crackdown against illicit brew, saying that apart from cracking down on second-generation liquor, it was his mandate to see his people emancipated from alcoholism.

Mwangi said companies were actively promoting their brand in bars saying it beats logic why they would pour alcohol in one bar yet the next bar has a rigorous promotion to market the same products.

The governor warned of dire consequences for any bar that will defy the directive saying it is wrong for liquor companies to entice people by making alcohol look cool.

He added that they had opened a communal rehabilitation centre with the aim of helping those who had been devastated by alcohol abuse, as he called on all stakeholders to support the initiative.

Governor Mwangi said that they had received almost 300 people within a week and expected the number to grow, adding that Ihura stadium has been closed for three months to cater for alcohol addicts.