A bar. Bar owners in Siaya want the National Coordinating Agency against Drug Abuse (NACADA) to reduce liquor selling license prices. [Photo/theculturetrip.com]
Bar owners in Siaya want the government to review the charges imposed on the acquisition of liquor licenses.
Speaking during a liquor committee meeting, the businessmen lamented that the fees set by the National Coordinating Agency against Drug Abuse (NACADA) are too high.
Led by Pamela Wambia, they argued that the charges are inhibitive of their trade as it did not take into consideration the current economic situation in different parts of the country.
She says that there was no way they could be expected to part with Ksh. 35,000 as license fees, same as a trader in Nairobi where economic conditions are favourable and money circulation is also high.
They maintained therefore that there is need to review the fees charged on the license to reflect the true economic situation of Siaya County if the government wants them to survive in that business.
Siaya Deputy County Commissioner Mr. Joseph Sawe who chaired the meeting stated however that the government will close down all liquor outlets that shall fail to comply with the directive.
He stated that his office had received reports of some unscrupulous bar owners who import illegal liquor from the neighbouring country of Uganda and warned that any outlet found dealing with outlawed products will be closed immediately.
Mr. Sawe also warned that they plan to conduct a crackdown on liquor outlets that engage in gambling, those that allow underage children and those that play loud music to ensure that law and order prevail in all bars across the county.