Chiefs who cannot fight the use of illicit drugs in Homa Bay County have been told to quit their jobs and become clergymen or join any other job.

Brewing and consumption of illicit alcohol is prevalent in many parts of the country. Homa Bay county is not exempted.

Those who have been tasked to lead the fight against the vice are chiefs and assistant chiefs because of their proximity to the people.

Top governor officers believe the fight against illicit brews is impeded by some chiefs who are lenient to the culprits.

Homa Bay County Commissioner Moses Lilan now wants chiefs and assistant chiefs who cannot fight the brews effectively to quit the job and become clergymen or join any other job they can do better.The county commissioner said chiefs must assert their authority in the fight against the brews. He said that a chief who does not want to use their powers to fight the crime is in the wrong job.

“A chief who cannot fight illicit brews should know that they are in the wrong job. Let them become clergymen or join any other job they feel they can do effectively,” Lilan said.

He said chiefs who cannot fight illicit drugs will not be spared.

“We have instructed our administrators to put more efforts in curbing brewing and trafficking of illegal drugs in their jurisdictions. Those who fail to do so are in the wrong job and should not continue,” Lilan said.

The administrator said they had intensified the fight against illicit brews to ensure residents stop the business.

Security officials have been raiding alcohol dens in the fight against illegal liquor. The dens are mostly found in sugarcane plantations, maize plantations and bushes in villages.

During the raids, security officials have not been able to arrest the brewers who usually escape the dragnet.

The perpetrators are said to be getting tip-offs about the raids and escape before security officers arrive at their dens.

But in what is meant to be a new modality of fighting the vice, Lilan has directed all national government administration officials in the county to arrest brewers and destroy the illegal brews.

The commissioner said that chiefs had been empowered to arrest perpetrators.

“Chiefs know homes of the suspects. This means perpetrators who escape during the raid can still be followed up later when they return home so that they are arrested,” Lilan said.He said illicit drugs cause violence and family break-ups.

“The drugs have also ruined the lives of many young people who should contribute to the development of society,” he said.

The administrator said their intention as a security team was to eradicate illicit drugs from every jurisdiction.

“Every administration official right from the lowest to the highest level must ensure their jurisdiction is illicit drugs-free,” Lilan said.