Nyeri Governor Dr Mutahi Kahiga has ordered the immediate closure of all bars operating in Gatitu trading centre in the outskirts of Nyeri town following public outcry over the proliferation of the sale of illicit alcohol.
Speaking during a public a baraza that was attended by security agencies at the Gatitu trading centre, the county boss directed the County Alcoholic Drinks Control Licensing Committee to immediately revoke licenses for all bars pending fresh vetting by the committee.
“I am very disturbed. The time for negotiating and strategizing is over. It is the time for enforcement because as we are busy talking, our people are still getting drunk and lying dead in the mortuary, “said Kahiga.
The visibly agitated governor also directed that the number of bars operating in the centre be reduced to a maximum of 10 as part of a sweeping crackdown on illicit and counterfeit alcohol in the area.
He wondered how a small shopping centre with a population of not more than 20,000 residents had close to 30 bars and liquor selling outlets. Some he said were operating without licenses while in some instances unscrupulous operators were using fake licenses right under the watch of county law enforcement officers.
“I have heard that there are 38 bars in Gatitu. This is ridiculous! “Starting from today I have directed that all bars operating in Gatitu be shut down with immediate effect,” he said.
“County Alcoholic Drinks Control Licensing Committee will partner with the county enforcement to vet and issue licenses to the bar owners. And for those that will fail to meet the requirements we should not hear they were issued with licenses,” retorted the governor.
Dr Kahiga also ordered the revocation of all liquor distribution permits in the town pending fresh vetting by the liquor licensing committee. He warned that the county will not tolerate the sale and distribution of illicit and counterfeit alcohol in the region.
“If any of the affected feels like this is too much for them, they are welcome to sue the county. But we shall not sit and watch as counterfeit liquor is being sold to our people in this county,” he said.
The governor also directed the Directorate of public health and sanitation to conduct a weeklong clean up exercise to rid the town of alcohol bottles which he said were being used to repackage counterfeit alcohol. He also announced a one- week Rapid Result Initiative(RRI) to enforce compliance after which bars and distributors that meet the compliance requirements will be allowed to re-open.
The baraza comes after four residents are said to have died on separate occasions after consuming what is believed to be illicit alcohol in the last one month.
Another victim is fighting for his life at the County Referral Hospital where he was rushed last week after a drinking spree.
The latest victims are middle-aged men and died separately just hours after consuming the lethal liquor.
Kahiga announced that the county government will waive the post-mortem charges to facilitate the procedure which will ascertain the actual cause of their death. The post-mortems will be conducted today at the county referral funeral home in Nyeri town.
He took a swipe at law enforcement officers whom he accused of collecting bribes from the unscrupulous business owners operating illegal liquor joints in the area. He also called them out for leaking intelligence about enforcement operations, something he said is undermining the fight against illicit alcohol.
“It doesn’t matter which office I will be forced to knock and seek help from, but I will not have police officers collect bribes in this town. We know the amount of money you are collecting as people engage in reckless behaviour. We will not allow that,” he said.
The governor was accompanied by his deputy Kinaniri Warue and area Member of County Assembly, Wangechi Wanjithi, Nyeri Central Deputy County Commissioner Maina Ngunyi, Sub-county police commander Selina Kilugha, National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse, County Director Carol Kahiu, KEBS Representative Lydiah Ondoro. Others included the Director Alcoholic Drinks Control and Management, Josphat Wamathai, Chairman of the Liquor Committee, James Wahoro.
Kahiga called for a coordinated approach involving both levels of government, community members and religious stakeholders. He said the war against the menace will only be won if all the stakeholders agree to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities related to the sale of illicit brews.
“We must have a community outreach and agree on how to address this alcoholism crisis and get to the root cause of the problem that is driving our people to alcoholism. I want to urge all of us to do that which must be done to protect our future generation. So I plead with you as members of the community to work with the two levels of government to end this vice, “said Dr Kahiga.
In January, a multi-agency security operation in Nyeri impounded 150 crates of suspected counterfeit alcohol at a local bar in Micha trading Centre, Ruring’u ward some five kilometers from Gatitu trading centre.
The swoop was led by Central Region Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha and the Regional Police Commander Jasper Ombati.
Nkanatha, while speaking to KNA on the sidelines of the sting operation said the joint initiative would continue until the menace of illicit brews and substance abuse is eradicated for good from the region.
He said the raid was part of the Government accelerated 100 day Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) that was announced recently by President Dr William Ruto on December 31 to help address the runway of brewing, sale and drinking of illicit brews early.
“This is an operation that is being carried out throughout the country and as such in the Central Region and as such these Committee have decided to take the lead in order to make sure that our team implements the RRI to the letter. We have been to Kiambu and Murang’a where we had similar activities. Today we are in Nyeri and we can see the work we were able to do. It was a well-organized multi-agency meeting and we agreed by the end of the RRI period, this place is going to be free of all these vices,” he said.
The Regional administrator said the operation, though set to run for 100 days, would still continue beyond then and ensure all unscrupulous and rogue individuals who are circumventing the laid down requirements and selling illicit and lethal drinks are arrested and arraigned before the court.
He disclosed that intelligence reports had already zeroed on three people who were involved in the production and sale of counterfeit beer in Nyeri and warned that their days are numbered.
Nkanatha further said the team had agreed to be of one mind in combating the proliferation of illicit brews and drugs in the region and said there will be no letup in the war until those involved in the trade are chased out of town.
“This is one of the three major counterfeiters. We are informed that he is one of the people who are selling poison because if it is substandard beer then that is poisonous. I want to sound the alarm to all of them that we are coming for you. We are also telling our teams that this is the time we need to have honesty discussion about the role we are also playing in ensuring that we implement the directive. Should anyone feel that they cannot implement the directive, then they are free to leave the scene and leave it to those who are willing to do the work,” he stated.
By Wangari Mwangi
