Mututho ejected as Nacada boss

PHOTO | FILE President Uhuru Kenyatta has revoked the appointment of John Mututho (pictured) as the chairman of National Authority for Campaign Against Alcohol and Drugs Abuse 

President Uhuru Kenyatta has revoked the appointment of John Mututho as the chairman of National Authority for Campaign Against Alcohol and Drugs Abuse (Nacada)

Mr Mututho leaves just over a month after he was named to the position.

The no-nonsense anti-alcoholism campaigner was sent home in unclear circumstances through a gazette notice issued last Friday by the President.

His return to public limelight through the appointment after losing his Naivasha seat in the last General Election did not go well with big investors in the industry who are still suffering from the economic effects of his famous Alcoholic Drinks Control Act.

On Wednesday Mr Mututho confirmed he had been removed but explained that the move was part of a plan to restructure NACADA with a view to making it much more effective.

“Once the restructuring is done, they will re-gazette my appointment or gazette anybody else but I remain committed to the management of alcohol in this country. In the meantime, I’m waiting to be vetted by Parliament. You can check with Parliament when the vetting is due,” he told the Nation.

He had replaced Dr Frank Njenga whose appointment was revoked in September by the President to pave way for his entry.

TOUGH LAWS

Mr Mututho initiated tough laws, including introducing regulated drinking schedules forcing many alcohol consumers out of the beer bars in a campaign he said was meant to save lives.

On Wednesday COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli condemned Mr Mututho’s removal, terming it unfortunate and costly for the whole country.

“However as the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu), this did not come as a surprise since this is the true culture of a country we have often fallen prey to,”Mr Atwoli said in a statement.

He further stated: “Alcohol and Drug Abuse are no doubt killing our youths in this country. Kenya is losing great individuals to this menace.”

Though it is not clear who and what triggered Mr Mututho’s sudden removal Mr Atwoli blamed it on cartels he claimed was hell-bent on maximising profits for the former Nacada boss’s predicament.

“They approached and lobbied the President to revoke Mr Mututho’s appointment, a man who fought so hard to bring the famous Mututho laws and now after ensuring that he lost his seat in Naivasha these agents of evil are at it again,” the Cotu boss said.