Senator James Murango and MP Njeri Maina being received by locals of Kangai Ward on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. [PHOTO: SCREENGRAB]Kirinyaga County Woman Rep Njeri Maina and the area Senator
James Kamau Murango have raised concerns over the return of illicit brews in
Kangai Ward, Mwea Sub-county.
The two leaders, who were on a development tour in the area,
asked security officers to up their game in taming the vice to save families
from wasting away into alcoholism.
MP Njeri asked authorities to rein in bars selling illegal
liquor in the area and to reinforce the selling hours of alcohol.
“There’s a bar here that operates from morning to
evening—and then back to morning again. They’re selling alcohol to everyone,
knowing it’s illegal,” MP Njeri said.
“This must stop, and we are asking the security officers in
this county to step up and do their job. We will not allow this to continue.”
The address on alcohol came even as MP Njeri distributed
cheques worth Sh10 million to groups across the county.
During their visit to Kangai Ward, the two MPs were warmly received by thousands who had gathered to receive them.
By empowering them economically, the funds will help the
groups to be self-reliant.
Senator Murango, on his part, called for coordinated action
between locals and security officers to tame the vice.
The remarks came after two people from the area were
hospitalised on Tuesday after allegedly consuming unsafe alcohol.
“I want to question the county government to ensure that
only licensed sellers are distributing legal and safe alcohol that does not
harm our people,” he added.
“It is very sad that even before we bury youths who are
victims of illicit liquor in this area, we already have two in the hospital because
of illicit liquor. We should not allow alcohol that kills our people to be
distributed in shops.”
The concerns in the area came several months after the
government initiated stringent measures to regulate the sale and consumption of
alcohol in the area, which, among others, set a specific timeline for selling
liquor.
The hours for selling alcohol were set to generally between
5 pm and 11 pm on weekdays and 2 pm to 11 pm on weekends and public holidays
for general retail bars.
Supermarkets and their franchises can sell alcohol between
10 am and 8:30 pm every day.
However, some facilities have dodged these regulations and
are operating beyond the set timelines.
