Kindiki Shuts Down 5,995 Liquor Joints After Declaring Crackdown
Kithure Kindiki-led ministry noted that the joints were shut down after they were found to have failed to comply with the legal operational requirements.
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The Ministry of Interior on Tuesday, June 13 shut down 5,995 liquor joints across the country in efforts to enforce compliance with alcohol laws.
In a statement, the Kithure Kindiki-led ministry noted that the joints were shut down after they were found to have failed to comply with the legal operational requirements.
"A total of 43,708 outlets have been assessed, with 37,713 already cleared to carry on with operations while 5,995 have been closed down due to serious safety breaches and failure to fully comply with essential legal requirements," read part of the statement.
Sample of alcohol bottles in a liquor shop. /FILE
The Ministry further noted that so far Rift Valley has recorded the highest level of compliance, with 23,735 businesses cleared, followed by Eastern Kenya in second, Central, Nyanza, Western, Coast, and North Eastern regions all following.
"The Eastern Region and Nairobi have also recorded impressive figures, the former with 5,708 and the latter with 3,315. They are followed by the Central region with 1,827, Nyanza with 1,217, Western with 1,153, and Coast with 706," added part of the statement.
"Bottom on the list is North Eastern, where 52 premises have been declared compliant."
According to the Ministry, 86 per cent of the inspected spots recorded compliance.
This comprehensive inspection covers various aspects, including the licensing status of premises, adherence to legal standards for alcoholic beverages, and proper labelling of alcohol products.
It serves as a precursor to a thorough review of all licenses issued for the manufacturing, distribution, and sale of alcoholic drinks across the country.
The move comes a day after Kindiki fired a warning to chiefs, assistant chiefs, and police officers while announcing a crackdown on alcohol manufacturers, distributors and sellers across Kenya.
Speaking at Kirubia Stadium in Tharaka Nithi County, the Interior CS cautioned security officials who will be caught receiving bribes to protect those who continue to produce and sell illicit brews.
While noting that their actions had contributed to the loss of credibility in that department among Kenyans, Kindiki announced that those found undertaking the act will be interdicted immediately.
“Any Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs, and Police officers receiving protection money from illicit alcohol brewers or peddlers of drugs are agents of killers and do not deserve their management positions. We will not transfer you to another station. We will get rid of you.
“People don't regard us very highly because others take bribes and look the other way allowing injustice to flourish. We will not exclude any person including government officials including colleagues of mine,” he vowed.
The CS further noted that the government was committed to reviewing all the licenses for second-generation alcohol dealers.
Kindiki noted that some of the authorised manufacturers purchased ethanol and ran parallel businesses whereby they produced unauthorised products which put consumers' lives in danger. He added that some of the licensed companies were subcontracting their production to other unauthorised businesses.
