A High Court in Kisumu has halted Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki’s directive to close bars as part of the government’s campaign against illicit brew in Kenya. The court issued a suspension of Kindiki’s order pending a hearing to address the issue.
The court’s ruling stated, “…THAT pending hearing and determination of the application dated 8th day of March 2024, stay of the 1st Respondent’s directive issued by the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Interior & Coordination of National Government on the 6th March 2024 for the closure of all bars in Kenya and Kisumu County be and is hereby granted.”
The Kisumu Bar Owners Association initiated legal action to challenge CS Kindiki’s directive.
Previously, on March 6, the Interior CS had instructed the closure of bars located near residential areas and schools. He also mandated the closure of bars owned by civil servants to address potential conflicts of interest.
In Kirinyaga County, 114 bars owned by county and national government officials were shut down following the directive. Kirinyaga County Commissioner Hussein Allasow Hussein confirmed the closures, emphasizing that steps were taken to prevent their reopening. He stated, “Some of them are trying to quickly transfer them to third parties but they won’t succeed. We have already identified them and closed them.”
This action is part of the government’s broader crackdown on illicit alcohol trade, with over 400 bars closed in various locations. The government has also instructed public officers who own or operate bars to either shut them down or resign.
