A joint operation comprising the Nairobi Liquor Department, Security and Compliance personnel, and the National Police has led to the closure of 120 liquor establishments and the arrest of 25 bar proprietors in Starehe sub-county.
Last week Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson directed the Nairobi Liquor Department and the Security and Compliance departments to clamp down on wines and spirit joints that are located near bus stops and terminals (in Starehe sub-County) as the crackdown on abuse of alcohol in the city intensifies.
The initiative, spearheaded by Chief Officer for Security and Compliance Tony Kimani and Judith Anyango, Vice Chair of the Nairobi County Liquor Board, focused on wine and spirits outlets located at various areas including Country Bus Station, Muthurwa Bus Terminus, Hakati Bus Station, Accra Road Terminus, Latema Road Terminus, and Old Nation Roundabout.
“We will no longer allow and tolerate disorder in the city. Nairobi is the capital city. I have directed the removal of all wines and spirits shops located around matatu terminals and bus stops. Drivers and Touts are spending most of their time in these wines and spirits that have turned into bars and drinking dens as they wait for customers.
We have lost loved ones due to recklessness on our roads because of alcohol and drug abuse. We have even discovered that all these bars targeted have been operating with the required licenses,” said Governor Sakaja.
Maureen Njeri, County Executive, Business and Hustler Opportunities, preliminary data collection within Starehe sub-county established that most wines and spirits operating in the bus terminuses are unlicensed and hence operating in contravention with Nairobi City County alcoholic drinks control and licensing act of 2014.
The Nairobi Liquor Department is in the process of collating data for the other outlets located in bus terminus across the other remaining subcounties for closure in the coming days.
The multi-agency crackdown will involve verification of outlet licenses to ensure there are no developments or sprouting of illegal alcohol.
In addition, Sakaja emphasised that the Nairobi City County Alcoholic Drinks Control and Licensing Board and the enforcement teams “have my full blessings and support to rid this city of this unbecoming behaviour where young men and women start drinking at 9.00 am and expect to function properly. That will no longer be allowed in the Nairobi that we want.
