A section of Landlords in Nakuru town residential area are shying away from letting their commercial buildings to alcohol dealers due to an outcry from other residents over insecurity that is caused by alcoholic drinks selling joints.
In an interview with some Landlords (whose premises lie unoccupied and which previously housed drinking joints) with this writer on Saturday in Teachers Estate, These Landlords said that they would not let out their buildings to alcohol dealers anymore because of complaints from other tenants.
Andrew Keiru, Landlord whose commercial building housed a Bar since 2005 till November last year said he had decided not to let out his building to alcohol dealers and to also allow for renovation of the house.
He said the most people attending alcohol joints had been notorious in causing noise, disorderliness and criminal activities which were highly condemned by other tenants and neighbours.
“I will not let my building to those who deal in alcohol business anymore. I will renovate my house for other businesses but not a bar. Generally such a joint attracts many people and issues thus putting lives and security of other tenants and neighbours at risk,” vowed Keiru.
Another commercial building owner Stella Momanyi said she stopped letting out her premises to such dealers because of the insecurity the previous joint in the place posed to her family and other tenants.
“My tenants were always harassed by police officers who suspected some of them to be those attending bars at night especially when they come from work,” said Momanyi.
Momanyi added that at times some of her tenants were arrested by mistake while also some colluded with some alcohol consumers to hide in their houses during police raids.
“The situation threatened to get out of control and that is why I gave out a notice to the bar owner to vacate the building,’’ Momanyi.
The area Council of Elders in charge of security matters Paul Ogega noted that the council had received complaints from residents about insecurity cases related to alcohol drinking joints. He said the council prefers such joints to be located along the main road that hosts major business centres but not within Estates.