Owners of bars, breweries, wines & spirits outlets and other alcoholic drink sellers operating in Nakuru County have been asked to apply for new licences starting January 2016.
Governor Kinuthia Mbugua said that the move is aimed at taming the illicit brew menace in Nakuru in the next year.
Speaking on Friday after presiding over a swearing ceremony of sub-county Alcoholic Drink Regulation Administration and Review Committee at the county headquarters, Mbugua noted that the committee’s immediate task was to crack a whip on unscrupulous operators who were secretly operating illicit brew dens without official operating licences.
“The committee is expected to officially begin alcoholic licences inspection starting January 15, 2016. All wards and village bars must be inspected, we are tired of this illicit brew issue in Nakuru,” Mbugua said.
According to the governor, any operator without a licence will not be spared.
He further said that the committee will be in charge of general retail alcoholic drinks licences, brewer’s alcoholic drinks licences, wholesale alcoholic drinks licences, import alcoholic drinks licences, distributor alcoholic drink licences, manufacturers alcoholic drinks licences, bar and club alcoholic drinks licences.
Each committee is comprised of four members; the sub-county trade officer, public health officer, deputy county commissioner, physical planning officer and an independent member from specific wards.