Machakos county commissioner Josephine Ouko has said there is no bending law in the ongoing crackdown on illicit brews, and drug and substance abuse in the county.
Ouko cautioned National Government Administration Officers alongside security agencies and Machakos officials engaged in the crackdown operations against being compromised during the execution.
She warned that those found to be colluding with suspects will not only be sacked but also arrested and arraigned.
“For instance, the law states that a bar must be 300 meters away from school. I can’t change the law, we must abide by it,” Ouko said.
Ouko spoke when she presided over a county security meeting in Machakos on Friday.
The meeting was attended by NGAO officials, top security officials, and Machakos county executives.
“Today, we have deliberated on how we are going to enforce the directives by President William Ruto on the eradication of illicit brew, illicit second-generation liquor, drugs, and substance abuse within our county. We have come up with strategies on how we are going to implement it,” Ouko said.
Ouko said the crackdown had already commenced across the county.
“We shall do it humanly, we won’t fight people but will effect the law,” Ouko said.
All deputy county commissioners, assistant county commissioners, chiefs, and their assistants from across Machakos attended the meeting.
Area county police commander Patrick Lobolia and his AP counterpart Dennis Odero also led subcounty police commanders and OCSs in the meeting.
Machakos Finance executive Onesmus Kuyu and his Trade counterpart Sharon Mutua led the county government’s liquor licensing team in the meeting.
Ouko said they had the full support of Governor Wavinya Ndeti’s administration in the crackdown and called upon the public to join hands in the war against illicit trade.
“As it is now, this issue has gone to a level whereby it’s a national security threat and the people expected to be productive in the nation are mostly affected; children, youths, productive adults, and the elderly,” Ouko said.
She said each family across the county could attest to that fact.
“This vice has taken a toll on our health, and institutions and played a major role in spreading HIV/AIDS and crime in the country,” Ouko said.
Ouko said as a Machakos family, they had said no to the vice and were going to go out in full force as a team to ensure they were eradicated.
“When I talk about illicit, it means it doesn’t meet the threshold, it’s illegal and not meant for the market,” she said.
“Mental issues, high levels of crime, and suicide cases have been attributed to bhang consumption. We urge the public to give us information since these things are stored and sold within communities."
Mutua said they will ensure that everyone operating liquor businesses in Machakos has valid licenses and trades in legitimate products, operating within the law.
“We are re-inspecting to issue new licenses. Our offices are open for the exercise,” Mutua said.
Finance executive Kuyu told residents to pay for their business permits through pay bill 1616160, no cash.
“Our systems are going to work,” Kuyu said.
Ouko said applying for a license isn’t a license and ignorance has no defense in a court of law.
“If you know you don’t have a license for your bar, close it, and all those with licenses, we will do re-inspection. It isn’t business as usual, mambo yamebadilika,” she said.
She told government officers operating bars to either close shop or quit their jobs.