Murang’a County has launched a 100-day Rapid Response Initiative (RRI) aimed at intensifying crackdown on illegal liquor outlets, drug trafficking and activities deemed to threaten public safety.
Launching the initiative on Thursday in his office, Murang’a county commissioner Hassan Bule said during the period which will run from January 9 to April 10, a multi-agency team will move to restore order and protect residents from effects of drugs and alcohol abuse.
He noted the operation will bring together national government administrators, security agencies, the county government, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and community leaders.
The team, Bule observed, has been tasked with enforcing strict regulations on the sale of alcohol and narcotics while also ensuring peace and stability ahead of the upcoming election period.
“At the heart of the crackdown is a directive to close down all bars and liquor outlets operating within a 300-metre radius of learning institutions, regardless of whether they are licensed or not,” he remarked.
According to the Commissioner, the presence of alcohol-selling outlets near schools has contributed to indiscipline, early exposure to drugs and alcohol and declining academic performance among learners.
“We cannot sit back and watch our children being exposed to alcohol and drugs at such a tender age. Any bar or liquor outlet found operating within 300 metres of a school will be closed without exception,” Bule said.
The administrator observed that drug and alcohol abuse continues to erode the economic welfare of many families, draining household incomes and fueling crime, school dropouts and domestic conflicts.
“When families are destroyed by drugs and alcohol, the whole society suffers. If we want strong families, productive citizens and a stable county, we must confront this problem head-on,” he said.
He further noted that all liquor licenses issued last year expired on December 31 and that no bar or restaurant will be allowed to operate this year without undergoing a fresh and thorough inspection.
“Fresh licensing of bars will be conducted through a transparent and coordinated process involving security officers, KEBS, NACADA, county government officials and local community leaders,” said the commissioner.
This approach, Bule said, is meant to ensure that only compliant, responsible and law-abiding operators are allowed to run alcohol businesses.
He stressed that the inspection process will be stricter than before and aimed at eliminating rogue operators who have in the past used loopholes to continue operating illegally.
“To control the mushrooming of alcohol outlets, the county will introduce realistic limits on the number of bars licensed in each shopping centre and market” he added.
Bule further observed that licensing committees will categorize applicants based on the size of the centre, population, proximity to schools, churches and residential areas and the general social impact on the community.
“We cannot have ten or fifteen bars operating in a small centre. It does not make economic or social sense. We will only issue a manageable number of licenses per centre to protect our communities,” he stated.
The multi-agency team, Bule noted, will also intensify the fight against drug abuse with a special focus on individuals and networks involved in the sale and trafficking of bhang and other narcotic substances within the county.
“Security agencies have been directed to gather intelligence and take firm action against dealers who continue to prey on young people and vulnerable families,” he added.
The administrator further explained that the crackdown will also target illicit and counterfeit brews, which authorities say have continued to pose serious health risks despite previous enforcement efforts.
“NACADA and KEBS will guide enforcement teams in identifying unsafe alcohol products and ensuring that licensed outlets meet required health and safety standards,” he averred.
On matters of security, the commissioner directed sub-county security committees to be on high alert and deal decisively with any gangs or individuals seeking to disrupt peace, particularly during this pre-election period.
He warned that Murang’a will not tolerate political or criminal groups that thrive on chaos and intimidation.
“I want to urge all leaders and citizens to abide by the law and maintain peace. Anyone who attempts to disrupt law and order will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law,” Bule warned.
According to Bule, preventing drug and alcohol abuse is not just a security issue but a social and economic priority.
The multi-agency operation is expected to run continuously, with authorities calling on residents to cooperate by reporting illegal outlets, drug dealers and any activities that threaten peace and safety in their neighbourhoods.
By Bernard Munyao
