Kirinyaga County – A crackdown on the sale and manufacture of illicit brews has led to the arrest of thirty-five individuals, including police officers. This action follows an order by County Governor Anne Waiguru to initiate the vetting of all liquor outlets in the region.
During the crackdown, police also seized Ksh. 959,000 in cash and discovered a type of unknown illicit brew hidden in a manhole under a bed at Ngomongo village.
Notably, Josephine Karioko Muchira, the owner of Holiday Inn Pub, was arrested and her establishment shut down for alleged involvement in the manufacture and sale of illicit brew. Muchira was also found in possession of over 100 liters of illicit brew bearing fake Kenya Bureau of Standard (KEBS) and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) stamps.
Kirinyaga County Commissioner Hussein Allason Hussein confirmed the enforcement of the bar closure order issued by Governor Waiguru to facilitate the vetting exercise. A multi-agency team has been formed to carry out the vetting, and Hussein emphasized the importance of cooperation from all stakeholders.
“All bars are closed except for a few who want to play cat and mouse games,” Hussein stated. He highlighted concerns about the possible presence of poisonous drinks, stating that bars will remain closed until the vetting process is complete. Additionally, civil servants operating liquor outlets have been identified and will not receive licenses for their facilities.
Dennis Muciimi, the County Executive Committee Member for Sports, Culture, and Social Services, announced the commencement of the verification process. Twenty ward multi-agency vetting committees have been tasked with physically verifying all alcoholic outlets to ensure compliance with licensing regulations.
Muciimi assured bar owners of an open and transparent vetting process, emphasizing that establishments adhering to liquor licensing regulations would be allowed to reopen. Bar owners are required to be physically present during the verification exercise and provide valid application receipts for 2024 and liquor licenses for 2023. Those who fail to participate will be considered to have exited the business.
