Uasin Gishu county has cancelled licenses for several bars and drinking joints operating near schools and colleges in Eldoret town and other parts of the region.
Director of the county Alcoholic Drinks Control Board Koiya Arap Maiyo said they have intensified a crackdown against those defying regulations, especially as concerns exposure of children and youth to alcohol and drugs.
Maiyo said so far, more than 200 traders dealing with alcoholic drinks have been charged in courts since a multi-agency crackdown was launched against manufacture and sale of illicit alcohol in the region.
“As a county under the leadership of Governor Jonathan Bii, we will not allow exposure of children and our youth to illicit alcohol and drugs which have ruined many lives,” he said.
Maiyo who was speaking in his office, said his board would not entertain traders who defy regulations and open bars in areas near schools, colleges, hospitals and within residential areas.
“We have also stepped up the capacity of our enforcement teams so that they inspect all areas in urban and rural areas, and ensure there is no illicit alcohol on sale," he said.
The same crackdown is also going on in slum areas where there had been high consumption of illicit brews.
“Our governor has given firm instructions that he wants a sober and working county, and as a board, we will enforce his orders by ensuring that everyone including traders, comply with the law as concerns alcoholic drinks.”
Maiyio said bar operators must ensure they only operate within regulated hours. “Those who open the drinking joints early in the morning or very late in the night must know we have now deployed teams to enforce the law.”
The board is also working on other stakeholders including Kenya Bureau of Standards, NIS, the DCI, KRA and police among others to stop transportation of illicit alcohol from neighbouring regions to Eldoret and other parts of the county.
Officers from the various departments have been deployed on all highways and other entry points to inspect all vehicles and stop transportation of the illicit alcohol and drugs into the region.
“We have traders who even use vehicles marked as ambulances or to transport alcohol from other regions but we are now on the watch to catch them,” Maiyo said.
Operators of public service vehicles have also been warned against transporting illicit alcohol.
