By MKT Correspondent
All the 150 liquor outlets in Karatina town, the second largest town in Nyeri county have been ordered closed.
The outlets do not meet one of the establishment rule that stipulates that such a business must not be less 300 metres from a learning institutions.
Karatina town that sits on 407 acres makes it practically impossible to have a liquor outlet. This is due to the fact that at both ends of the town, there are learning institutions. There are three public primary schools, two academics and a public secondary schools in the town.
Two weeks ago, the government ordered for the closure of the outlets, save for a few.
However, following protests by some dealers who were affected by the closure.
Among those who had initially been spared from closure, two weeks ago are The Derby Place, Omega Gardens, Starbucks, Ibis group and County Inn as well as about 7 that past the test that have been roaring business selling the popular Keg beer sold in mugs.
They are said to have hiked prices from the usual Sh80 and Sh40 for the big and small mugs respectively to Sh100 and Sh50 respectively as well as giving less quantities thereby earning super profits to the envy of their peers who had been squeezed out of business. One of the outlets which is reportedly the oldest in the town was selling over 20 seventy litre cans raking in upwards of 0ver Sh100,000 daily.
One of the dealers is said to have rubbed the provincial administration the wrong way by daring the Mathira East DCC opening her premises and daring him to arrest her. The did just that.
Another one reportedly said she was calling the County Governor for assistance to which the administrator retorted,” don’t bother because I wouldn’t listen to him. Am only picking two calls; that of the Deputy President and my minister Professor Kindiki”.
The bar owner however went on and called the county boss who advised her to shift to a clean business that would not put her on collision course with law enforcement agencies.
Several car wash establishments that neighbour one of the public primary schools were also ordered closed as they were said to be bang peddlers and smokers den.
A section of bar owners, waitresses and a handful of partakers of the second generation brews demonstrated to the Police Station but they were told they could not get any assistance there.
They matched to the nearby Deputy County Commissioner’s office where the acting boss Mr Osundwa turned a deaf ear.
The three bar owners earlier arrested were last evening relessed on a Police bond of Sh20,000.
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Mt Kenya Times