Alcohol sellers in Mang’u are at loggerheads with the Kiambu county Liquor Licensing and Regulations board after the body threatened to push them out of business.
Most bar owners, especially those running their businesses near residential areas, schools and other public institutions are the biggest losers who now stand to lose millions of shillings if evicted.
The plea comes in the wake of a heightened campaign to restore sanity in the liquor business in Kiambu county by county liquor licensing and regulations board.
"I have been selling alcohol here for the last two years and I’ve never witnessed any negative effect of what I sell. In fact, I have educated my children from here I don’t regret being an alcohol seller. The move by the county to move us from here is not legal and we won’t allow anyone to play around with our businesses; I have all my licenses and thus evacuation is not constitutional," said Jane Mukami an alcohol seller.
James Maigwa a bar owner in Gathithi, Mang’u ward lamented over the move saying the stringent move might push more than half of them from the business.
According to Kenyan constitution gazetted in 2010, bars are supposed to operate at least three hundred meters away from schools, churches and public offices.
The operators lamented full cooperation with the county government liquor board citing that they adhere to rules and regulations governing sale of alcohol.
"I wonder why the county has only chipped in at this time, we have been operating in their presence, paying licenses, ensuring health standards are met and even operating at only the stipulated hours. The directive given by the county issued on 13th April 2016 through letters to scrap us from our operational areas is not legal," said Monicah Karembo a bar operator in Mang’u.
Irene Mwangi, a member of the board said that most of the bars issued with letters in Mang’u were operating near schools and churches prompting the board to apply constitutional guidelines.
"We avoided issuing letters to some bars which had minor issues which they can address and continue operating," she added.