There has been uncoordinated inspection of liquor outlets by various Athi River sub-county liquor committee members, says area deputy county commissioner Geoffrey Omoding’.
Omoding’ said this had given way to mushrooming of many unlicensed and unhygienic bars in the region.
“The situation is worrying, it has resulted to more bars than hotels and food kiosk operating in the sub-county,” said Omoding’.
He addressed the press at his office in Athi River town on Monday.
Omoding’ said the bars had become a nuisance to the public because they were all over, some near schools, health facilities and within residential premises.
He blamed the situation on high levels of corruption among officers charged with enforcing liquor laws and regulating the industry.
“There has been too much corruption that has made the unlicensed bars to thrive in Athi River sub-county, such bars are being protected by corrupt officers on a daily basis,” said Omoding’.
Omoding’ said certain state and Machakos County officials were collecting protection fees from the bars leading to health risks and high insecurity in the area.
He said his office had halted uncoordinated inspection of bars in the entire sub-county to break the cartels and eliminate unlicensed bars.
“We have halted the uncoordinated inspection, we intend to conduct a team inspection where all relevant authorities move as a team in a crack down to weed out unsuitable liquor outlets in the entire sub-county,” said Omoding’.
Omoding’ said the crackdown will reduce the pubs to acceptable levels, those that have not complied to relevant laws will be closed down.
He said they had involved Nyumba Kumi officials in doing a list of all bars and pubs which operate illegally and need to be closed down.
Omoding’ said liquor applicants and dealers should only pay statutory fees and not any other without being issued with genuine receipts.
“We warn the officers collecting protection fees that they stand facing disciplinary actions, we will not condone corruption. We have suspended licensing of bars,” said Omoding’.
He said the exercise will resume after consultations with Machakos Government’s Directorate of Liquor Control.