Still A Drinking Nation

A drunkard proudly lifts up his favourite beer at a local bar

In the recent past, many revelers considered Mr. Michael Njenga Mututho a new sheriff in town but  things are starting to change.

For a few months, the exasperating smell, dirt, foul language and the deafening noise from bars and pubs vanished from the streets; at least during the day. 

The new Alcohol Control Bill prohibits selling of alcohol before 5:00pm on weekdays and 2:00pm on weekends, legalizes chang'aa among other changes.
 

"Five o'clock is now referred to as Mututho's time," complains Edward Omondi, a media student at the University of Nairobi. "It is a shame that some radio stations remind people that the time has come for them to go to bars,"

However, the new law is lately littered with negligence on the part of law enforcers. On the other hand, many Kenyans, especially those from not so well off addresses in Nairobi continue to let booze dampen their dreams and ambitions by overindulging.

"My husband drinks each morning before going to construction sites to look for the day's labour despite the new law," explains Maria Kerubo, a resident of Kangemi. "He says that chang'aa unlocks his mind and keeps him awake the rest of the day."

As global financial crisis continues to wreck havoc, Kenyans should understand that donors have enough problems of their own to deal with now. That it is a high time all Kenyans stand up and be counted for having built the nation in one way or another.