Kisumu has emerged as one of the country’s leading hotspots for illicit alcohol consumption, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said on Thursday, warning that the trade poses a growing threat to public health and economic progress. Speaking at a public security forum in the lakeside city, Mr Murkomen revealed that Kisumu ranks third nationwide for illegal alcohol use and fifth for marijuana consumption per capita. “Illicit alcohol, drug abuse, and organised gangs are choking progress. At the same time, boda boda operators will be required to join cooperatives and operate within set hours and routes, a move aimed at curbing their involvement in criminal activities. Students, boda boda riders, and beach management units are being drawn into local security committees to ensure that residents take part in shaping solutions.