Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru has sanctioned the immediate closure of drinking joints in the county.
She spoke on Saturday, February 17, while attending the funeral of 17 people who died after consuming illicit liquor.
Saddened by the fraudulent system of license issuance to the bar owners, Waiguru ordered all the establishments to remain shut as the process of verifying the active operational permits started immediately.
"We have reached our end. I want you to allow me and give me protection. Today I want to announce that all bars in the county have been closed and a new process of verifying the licenses has begun. The county government has withdrawn all the licenses with immediate effect," said Waiguru.
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She stated that any bar owner with a history of wrongdoing would be permanently banned from operating in the county.
This came a day after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki ordered a nationwide operation on illicit alcohol and consumption of narcotic drugs.
Addressing the press in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, CS Kindiki said the crackdown will begin immediately.
The Interior CS noted that selling illicit alcohol will be treated as terrorism and banditry from now on.
“Looking at what has happened it is our view that poisonous alcohol and consumption of narcotic drugs is a serious threat of the same level as terrorism and banditry, therefore, starting today, the government is going to declare a countrywide operation on in all areas where people have been imprisoned by the consumption of dangerous substances and alcoholic drinks,” said Kindiki.
He also instructed all chief and assistant chiefs to collect data from every village in the country on alcohol addicts for them to be taken to rehabilitation.
CS Kindiki also directed security teams to close all outlets selling alcohol in the villages saying they have ripped families apart.
“Going forward as national security policy, county governments will only license proper liquor establishments in shopping centers, town, and urban centers. We cannot have people having licenses to operate bars in villages,” said Kindiki.
