Uasin Gishu County Alcoholic Drinks Licensing Board Director Mr Armstrong Rono has ordered the closure of all bars and restaurants operating from basements of buildings.
He said these businesses put the lives of their clients at risk since in case of emergencies there is no room for customers to escape.
Speaking to journalists at the Uasin Gishu county headquarters offices on Saturday, Rono said the bars are operating illegally since they don’t have emergency exits.
He noted that in case there is an emergency such as fire, all clients will perish. "All bars should ensure security of their clients. Surely what would happen if there is fire? There will be no room for them to escape. Bar owners should not only mind about the profits but their clients too,” he said.
“Any bar operating in basement should be closed with immediate effect failure to which I will come to close it myself and your license will be taken" he said. He noted that bars operating in basement of buildings have turned out to be den for thieves where they make plans to commit crime.
Rono said the fight against the second generation alcohol is on course adding since its inception 70 per cent of former users in Uasin Gishu have stopped using it. He promised that with the help of the county Commissioner and his security personnel, illegal liquor will be a thing of the past.
"For those who were using the illegal liquor, we have fully paid for their rehabilitation at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital and other private rehabilitation centres. The county government of Uasin Gishu will build ultra modern rehabilitation soon to assist addicts" he added