Uasin Gishu County Alcoholic Drinks and Control Board chairman Rev. Elijah Cherus with the Boards Director Silas Boit address the press at County headquarters in Eldoret town on December 20, 2017. [Photo: Joe Khisa]
Strict regulations and high standards set for allowing operations for alcohol selling joints has led to a massive drop in the number of bars in Uasin Gishu County.
According to the county's Alcoholic Drinks and Control Board chairman Rev. Elijah Cherus, currently, there are slightly over 1,000 alcohol selling joints in the county compared to over 4,000 that were in place when the board was constituted about three years ago.
The figure is expected to drop to below 1,000 in 2018 as the county has only received applications from 998 businesses who want to be licensed to sell alcohol.
Already, licenses for about 200 bars that had been approved for operations this have been revoked for failing to pay the required fees.
"Those are the bars that have given us problems this year by selling alcohol that poses health risks to the locals and we've agreed that they will not be considered for licensing next year," said Rev. Cherus in Eldoret, Wednesday.
"We've done our best to ensure all those businesses sell only alcohol approved for human consumption because the health of our people is paramount," he added.
Rev. Cherus further noted that the County Alcoholic Drinks and Control Board will be conducting regular operations aimed at bars and other alcohol-selling joints operating without licenses.
"Only licensed joints will be allowed to operate in this county. Anybody that does the contrary will face the full force of the law," he warned.
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