Why you can't brew, sell or consume alcohol in West Pokots Leelan

In 1976, the elders of Lelang, Pokot South sub-county, West Pokot District, voted to ban the brewing and consumption of alcohol by local residents.

This was done under the direction of former Paramount director John Muok. Since then, for the past 40 years, Lelan has remained a non-alcoholic zone, and the locals have gotten used to it, making it a unique area.

Those looking to quench their thirst should visit the towns of Makutano, Chepaleria, Ortum, Kacheriba and Elgeyo Marakwet.

But last week, Lelan, administratively known as Pokot South constituency, revisited the 1976 decision using the same electoral strategy. Local residents also participated, and the elders joined forces with the women to defeat the youth and vote against the brewing and sale of alcohol.

The vote also included a decision on whether to allow gambling and billiards, which the elders won with a resounding “no.”

Last week's voting took place in three locations: Kabichbich, Tapachi and Sonday. The elderly won with 171 votes and the young with 41 votes.

The judgment was recorded in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the presence of government officials and local residents. Law enforcement and state administration officials signed a memorandum of understanding to assist with enforcement, a copy of which was kept in the deputy county commissioner's office.

The second vote, the first in more than 40 years, was prompted by young people who want bars and clubs to open in the area. These days, gambling and billiards are also played in the area.

There was an outcry from local young people, who began to question why alcohol had been banned for so many years. They decided to petition the local government to allow the nightclub to open, only to be denied.

DCC David Bowen, who chaired the voting forum, supported the local residents' decision and said it would go a long way in instilling family values ​​and reducing crime.

According to DCC Bowen, the local government was forced to cancel public participation after young people complained that they were not being given the opportunity to play billiards, drink and have fun.

“As representatives of the government, we have not taken sides with either of these two groups, but what they pass is what we will ensure is implemented. “We are here to ensure that this is done,” the DCC said, noting that residents have reasons to oppose such projects in their areas.

William Ruto, 53, a Leylan resident, said: “Alcohol was banned a long time ago, but the game of billiards was introduced and its effects are proving harmful.” Therefore, as elders, we advocate for its ban in this area, as well as alcohol, because many young people abandon their responsibilities and spend most of their precious time in pool huts, resulting in the breakdown of families. Masu. ”

He said he grew up knowing that alcohol is prohibited in his area and is used to it, noting that the status quo should remain.

Mr Ruto said young people were gathering together in social communities, leading to the emergence of fights and criminal activities.

Local residents who voted against the companies called on both the national and county governments to increase funding for youth activities that empower the lazy.

Michael Lopokoit of Kaptabuk said young people were selling family property and wasting the proceeds on billiards and gambling, causing misery to families. “Elders will not stand by and watch young people fail without decisive action,” he says.

Pokot South Sub-county Police Commander Syed Shungi said the forum witnessed heated discussions between young people and the elderly, but noted that it should not become a source of division among local residents. He said the region should continue to enjoy the peace it has enjoyed for many years.

Looking back at the days before the first ban in 1976, former Paramount Commissioner John Muok said many residents were so addicted to alcoholic beer that they ignored their responsibilities and slowed the region's growth. Told.

“We called the then Pokot District Commissioner Francis Cherogoni and all the Lerang elders for a public baraza in Kabichibich. “I told those who wanted to stand on the left side. The opposition was the majority, 200 to 30,” Muok, 76, said.

Currently chairman of the Pokot Council of Elders, he explained the steps taken to help farmers take out loans to improve their financial wealth. The scheme worked well until some farmers began to default on loan payments due to alcohol abuse instead of investment and utilization. their income appropriately.

According to the elders, the situation got so bad that the men were selling their animals and land just to pay for their excessive drinking.

“We voted against alcohol and it became the law of the land. It has been more than 40 years since we implemented prohibition in southern Pokot,” he said, adding that elders They explained that they were worried that beer would drown the county and that residents would become destitute from spending hours in bars.

“Family disputes are increasing at an alarming rate and the elders unanimously agreed to ban bars in the area. The majority of the community supported banning bars and alcohol brewing in the area. We were happy that he did so,” Muok said.

Fast forward to 2023 and elders even say that the South Pokot economy has grown and the larger constituency boasts of being the breadbasket of West Pokot District.

“Our region has been in a state of sobriety for many years. The community is afraid to violate the decision for fear of being cursed or chased away,” he said.

Because elders are respected in this region, the community respects and abides by the decisions made.

Mr Muok praised the government for respecting the decision, saying it helped promote development in the region.

“We would like to thank the security personnel for respecting our decision as they did not interfere with the decision of our elders, which was established 48 years ago,” he said.

Resident Anne Certo praised the elders' decision and said the ban allowed residents to farm.

“The whole county depends on us to feed them. Bars and saloons would have prevented many young people from working in agriculture,” she says.

Another resident, Kenneth Lomoipong, said that after the ban, the community established a dairy cooperative, which helped residents send their children to school.

“The ban helped in the establishment of milk cooling plants, which led to the establishment of milk processing plants by the county government in the area,” he said.

Southern Pokot has favorable climatic conditions for both crop and livestock production. Farmers in the area grow onions, cabbage, Irish potatoes, pyrethrum, and also engage in dairy farming. There are more than 30 milk cooling plants.

The ban on alcohol also contributed to the increase in enrollment.

Pokot South MP David Pukosin strongly supported the recent vote, saying it would go a long way in improving security and promoting education in the region.

The councilor said he also voted to abolish gambling and billiards because lazy young people were wasting their time at entertainment venues.

“If you want to drink, please drink somewhere else. We do not condone the use of alcoholic beverages in Lelan because we do not want to compromise the safety of the place for leisure,” he said.

Pukosin added that the Pokot community respects its cultural values ​​and cannot go against the decision of its elders to ban any form of alcohol in the area.

“The community has agreed to close all bars and drinking establishments in the area. Even if they have a legal license, we don't want our children going to school to be ruined by alcohol from an early age. No. Our safety is more important than their bars,” he said.

Pukoshin said the community agreed not to compromise with anyone on this decision and anyone found to have violated the community's laws would face the full consequences of their actions.