By Mutai Kipngetich
Kirinyaga leaders have called for fresh vetting of all bar outlets within the county as well as an intensified crackdown on illicit alcohol following an incident on Tuesday whereby two people were taken ill after allegedly consuming alcohol at Marura, Kangai Ward in Mwea West, Kirinyaga County.
The two men were initially treated at Njegas Health Centre before being referred to Kerugoya County Referral Hospital for further examination.
Kirinyaga Senator Kamau Murango and Women Representative Jane Njeri Maina who visited the area noted over a year ago, the county lost 23 lives to illicit brew in the same Kangai area and it is not acceptable to continue with the same trend.
Senator Murango asked the liquor licensing department in the County Government to do a comprehensive inspection to ensure all bars meet the required standards at the same time ensuring they are selling genuine products.
He further called upon the Mwea West Sub-County Security Team, in collaboration with county officials to widen surveillance and weed out the illegal brewers.
“Today we have residents admitted because of alcohol; I want to ask the county government before giving out licenses, to do an audit of the bars. We are tired losing our people,”he said
On her part, County MP Jane Njeri insisted the need for licensing only bars that sell genuine products, which will not harm the community warning on possibility where all outlets are being licensed without any background checks.
On enforcement, she argued that some bars are currently operating outside legal timelines set by the law.
“It is not okay for leaders to sit and see people dying. Proper audit of bars in Kirinyaga County should be done. The National Government Administration to ensure enforcement is done, as some bars remain open 24 hours,”she said
Kirinyaga County Executive Committee Member (CECM) Social Services, Dennis Musyimi, warned bar owners against operating without valid licenses and emphasized that compliance with the Kirinyaga County Alcoholic Drinks Control Act 2024 is not optional.
“We have intensified operations against non-compliant outlets. The window for renewing alcoholic drinks outlet licenses is over and anyone caught selling alcohol without a license will be taken to court and prosecuted,” he said.
The CECM assured residents that the County government remains committed to eliminating illicit alcohol and safeguarding public health.
While signing the Kirinyaga County Alcoholic Drinks Control Act last year, Governor Anne Waiguru stated that the act sought to protect the public from the dangers of consumption of illicit and substandard alcohol and provided for the formation of a Multiagency Sub County Alcoholic Drinks Control Committee that draws membership from the national and county governments among other stakeholders.
The Chairman of the County Liquor Board, Maina Kihia said that anyone found to be selling illicit alcohol will have their licenses revoked.
