Uasin Gishu County Secretary Peter Lelei. [Photo|Joe Khisa]
The county government of Uasin Gishu will conduct a fresh inspection of all alcohol selling joints before licences are renewed or revoked.
County Secretary Peter Lelei says the exercise that is expected to take between 10 to 13 days will begin on January 2, 2018.
Some 998 applications have been received by the County Alcoholic Drinks control board from businesses that are seeking licences to sell alcohol in the county.
Speaking after chairing a multi-agency meeting at the county headquarters in Eldoret town on Wednesday, Lelei said only those who will have adhered to all the set regulations will be allowed to sell alcohol in the county.
"During the inspection, we will be looking at the distance between the proposed alcohol selling place to learning institutions, church. We will also consider general cleanliness as per public health requirements, security of customers, among others," he said.
The County Secretary further said businesses that were involved in the sale of illicit alcohol will be blacklisted.
"Once the licences are approved we will do a crackdown across the county to ensure strict adherence to the laws and regulations. Owners of Bars and other alcohol-selling points that will be found operating without licenses will be arrested and prosecuted," Lelei said.