Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has ordered the closure of all bars in Kiambu County, as the crackdown on illicit brews intensifies.
Speaking in Gatundu North constituency, Dr Matiang’i said the decision will help the government stop the brewing and sale of illicit liquor. The area is notorious for consuming second generation alcohol.
Bar owners will now have to reapply for the operating licences, and the county government, which recently passed the Kiambu County Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, will vet to establish the establishments which meet the new requirements.
“It is very sad to note that we have more bars and clubs in the county than both primary and secondary schools combined,” the CS said, as quoted by The Standard.
“Currently, the county has 777 primary and 369 secondary schools while it has 3,062 bars and clubs. This is unacceptable and must be checked,” he added.
He urged the bar owners who feel aggrieved to go to court and seek redress there, adding that the government was firm on the issue.
“We cannot continue to lose innocent lives in the name of illicit alcohol. It is the high time we became innocent to ourselves that it is killing our people. We have to sort out this problem once and for all,” said the CS.