Gov’t shuts down 9,500 bars, 12 distilleries as crackdown on illicit brew intensifies

The government has so far shut down at least 9,500 unlicensed bars in the nationwide crackdown on illicit liquor and drugs.

This is according to Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki who said that 4,800 establishments selling alcohol and located near basic education institutions have also been closed and their licenses revoked.

The CS, who spoke on Friday in Matungulu, Machakos County, added that another 12 distilleries that were operating outside the law and manufacturing dangerous alcoholic drinks across the country were also shut down.

He stated that all licenses for manufacturers of second-generation alcoholic beverages remain suspended, with production banned until security and compliance checks are completed by the end of the month.

“The Alcoholic Drinks Control Act prohibits selling of alcohol whether licensed or not within 300 meters to a basic learning institution to save our children the menace of influence and exposure into alcohol and other substances at an early age,” Stated Kindiki.

“We are not going to allow those premises to resume that illegal activity the crackdown and enforcement measures program continues. I have said we have a 25-point plan to deal with this problem.”

The Interior boss further confirmed the shutdown of over 300 illegally operated chemists found to have been dispensing drug prescriptions illegally.

Kindiki went on to note that 290 agrovets were closed after it was discovered that some animal feeds were being used to make narcotics in the country.