NAIROBI, Kenya Dec 3 – Western Regional Commissioner Isaiah Nakoru has ordered an immediate closure of unlicensed liquor outlets and bars and those operating with only one permit license.
Nakoru who was speaking to National Government Administrative Officers(NGAO)from Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga, and Busia counties warned Regional Commanders and police officers that they will be held personally responsible if they allow unlicensed liquor outlets to operate in the region.
The order came after it was noted that more than 90 percent of Liquor outlets in Bungoma operate with only one license which is against the law of the land.
“We have also been told that some counties have licensed traditional brews but have not followed procedures yet there are procedures to be followed. We want to ensure our people are sober and engage in productive work,” he noted.
The RC said the issue of the porous border should not be taken as an excuse as enough police officers have been deployed who should work with Nyumba Kumi and Community Policing Committees to ensure there is a good partnership with members of the public.
“We have also instructed our officers to continuously hold barazas so that the public can also give them information. We can’t allow this to continue because we are killing the lives of people and promoting poverty in society. When people are drunkards they become less productive, they will never engage in any work,” he noted.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) Victor Okioma who was present during the meeting encouraged NGAO officers to increase public awareness and education as a measure to control the use and abuse of drugs.
He said western Kenya is ranked the highest in the use of traditional brew having overtaken central Kenya in the latest released report.
Okioma however expressed concern that county governments have become a weak link in enforcing compliance by allowing more outlets to operate without licenses.
“The constitution has devolved drug control and licensing of premises for the sale of alcohol to the counties. We expect them to reinforce money raised from revenue generated by licenses to support prevention programs among their people,” he added.
County governments should additionally put up rehabilitation facilities for people who have been affected by drug addiction.
“We are working with about 10 counties to put up rehabilitation facilities, but the majority of them are not even investing in this and I want to speak to the counties that the war against drug abuse can’t be won unless they come out strongly to participate in this,” he pointed out.
He said that In Kenya one can be certified to sell any kind of alcohol so long as it meets the standards of the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS)which have set out standards for all alcoholic drinks such as Busaa among others.
“Show us the standards from the KEBS that they have certified quality of the alcoholic drink and also show us where are you going to sell it,” he added
Okioma advised county governments to minimize licensing excess bars and liquor outlets to be able to control their operation.
In the latest released report on the use and abuse of drugs in the Western region, Administration officers inspected a total of 732 premises where 508 were found to be compliant while 224 failed the test.
A total of 1273 people were arrested in the crackdown with 112 premises closed.
At the same time, a total of 707 717 liters of illicit brews were destroyed while 3083 pieces of assorted counterfeit products were seized.
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