Bars and restaurants without smoking zones in Kiambu county now risk a Kshs. 500, 000 fine, according to the new Kiambu Alcoholic and Beverages Act.
Bartenders who sell liquor to already intoxicated persons will also part with Kshs. 50, 000 or face a jail term of 6 months or both.
Speaking on Thursday at a Thika hotel during a sensitisation workshop for Alcoholic and Beverages Outlets and Distributors, the Thika West Public Health Officer Patrick Mburu revealed that the Kiambu Alcoholic and Beverages Act 2015 was very vigilant and would not spare anyone.
Mburu warned smokers with the habit of smoking carelessly along the streets that they will also face the full wrath of the law as they will be slapped with a Kshs. 50, 000 fine or serve a 3 months jail term or both for subjecting innocent members of the public to the risks of secondary smoking.
Speaking during the same meeting, a Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) officer, John Kabue revealed that KEBS was now closely working with the county governments to fight the menace of adulterated products.
He regretted that unscrupulous businessmen have taken to producing poisonous products and later presenting them as genuine products ending up endagering the lives of many innocent Kenyans.
“It is unfortunate that people are driven by the thirst for quick money to produce products that are unfit for human consumption thus endangering innocent lives,” he said.
He cited a case in the recent past where 4 people died and several others were admitted in a Murang’a hospital after consuming illicit liquor.