EMBU – In a fervent plea for government action, Bishop Dr. Mark Kariuki, the General Overseer of Deliverance Church International, has called for a crackdown on the manufacturers and distributors of illicit and so-called second-generation liquor in the Mt. Kenya region.
According to Kenya News Agency, speaking during the 20th-anniversary celebrations at the Deliverance Church in Embu, these producers of harmful alcoholic beverages are contributing to the degradation of youth and are involved in the alarming increase of suicide cases in the area. He emphasized the urgency of arresting these individuals and shutting down their operations.
The bishop voiced his support for Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s campaign against drug abuse and alcoholism, noting that the campaign aligns with their concerns. He also expressed suspicions of a targeted distribution of these toxic substances in the Mt. Kenya region, as opposed to other areas.
In addition to these issues, Bishop Kariuki advised his congregation against being deceived by fraudulent clerics demanding money for so-called miracles. Instead, he urged them to seek divine intervention without falling prey to the exploitation of faith through the purchase of anointing oils and other supposed miraculous items.
Highlighting a positive government initiative, the bishop endorsed the national housing project, which he believes could be a significant source of employment for Kenyans.
Echoing the bishop’s concerns, Manyatta Member of Parliament Gitonga Mukunji urged Interior Cabinet Minister Kithure Kindiki to apply the full extent of the law to curb the production and distribution of this illicit liquor.
The event also commemorated the substantial growth of Deliverance Church under the leadership of Bishop Stephen Njoroge over the past two decades.