Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has outlined a radical plan to limit drinking hours in Kenya if elected president. He proposes that people would only be allowed to drink between 5 pm and 11 pm as part of his solution to what he described as a problem of people drinking all day. Gachagua, the leader of the Democracy for the Citizens Party, made these remarks while engaging Kenyans in the diaspora on Friday, September 25, 2026.
Gachagua noted that alcoholism has reached concerning levels and is crippling productivity, hence the need for radical steps to be taken to get the country back on the right path. He cited recent incidents in Lari, Kimende, and Kiambu County where several people died after consuming illicit alcohol as a clear demonstration of the severity of the situation in the region. The former Deputy President stated that 55 bars in the Mount Kenya region, which he accused of selling illicit alcohol to the youth, would be closed if he ascends to the highest seat in the land.
The operational hours of bars would also be reduced to six hours a day, with the entertainment spots opening at 5 pm and closing at 11 pm. Gachagua stated that he would regulate drinking hours, saying, "How can we have a country where people are drinking all day? Kenya has become a drinking nation. When I take over, bars will only be allowed to operate from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.” He lamented that powerful figures in the country are doing nothing to save the country’s youth from the yoke of alcoholism.
Gachagua recounted how he broke down and wept in his car during a recent engagement in Embu where half of the crowd that he went to address was already drunk by 10 am. He bitterly lamented that cheap liquor is flooding the region and leaving a trail of broken homes, shattered dreams, and deaths in its wake. The former Deputy President painted a worrying picture of how alcohol has replaced work, leading to low productivity as people drink all day, including when they should be working.
Gachagua contrasted the current situation with the past, when people would drink after work and on weekends, with the remaining time used to engage in building the nation. He expressed concern that the gains made under his tenure as the deputy president have all been lost with illicit alcohol flooding the region, with the youth trapped in alcoholism. The Democracy for the Citizens Party leader promised to roll out sweeping reforms to address the issue of alcoholism in the country.
The proposed drinking hours are part of Gachagua's plan to save Kenya from sinking deeper into what he referred to as a drinking nation. He made these remarks as part of his ongoing tour of the United States, where he is engaging with Kenyans in the diaspora. Gachagua's plan has sparked a national conversation about the issue of alcoholism and its impact on productivity and society.
Gachagua's concerns about alcoholism in Kenya have been echoed by many Kenyans who are worried about the impact of excessive drinking on the country's youth and economy. The issue of alcoholism has been a long-standing concern in Kenya, with many calling for stricter regulations on the sale and consumption of alcohol. Gachagua's proposal is one of the most radical plans to address the issue, and it remains to be seen how it will be received by the public and implemented if he wins the presidency in 2027.
Key points
- Gachagua proposes 5pm-11pm drinking hours to curb alcoholism
- 55 bars in the Mount Kenya region would be closed for selling illicit alcohol to the youth
- Gachagua's plan aims to save Kenya from sinking deeper into what he referred to as a drinking nation
