Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua clarified that the latest order on licensing bars and restaurants was meant for fighting illicit brew.
Speaking in Nairobi County on Friday, January 27, Gachagua maintained that he only wanted the industry to curb illicit brew that had affected many youths adding that the media misquoted him.
He maintained that licenced businesses would not be harassed in the process.
"Our officers will fight illicit brew. Not licenced businesses. What we have asked the governors is to reconsider the bars and restaurants that are operating 24 hours. Let the time be reduced.
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"Our work is to help businesses to thrive," he stated.
He suggested that the operating entertainment joints for 24 hours could be issued bar licenses only.
"Let the others operate as bars. So that people can drink until 11 pm so that people can go back home, relax and get back to work the following day when they are fresh," he stated.
Earlier, the DP had urged the governors to only license one bar and restaurant per town.
He was criticised some politicians and nemesis who argued that the majority of Kenyans would lose jobs.
"l totally don't agree with him (Gachagua) with his proposal to have one bar in each town in Central Kenya. How can that one even work?! Under which law? That can't be a solution. Government can't fight investors," Dan Nyagah opined.
However, in response, he asserted that the Kenya Kwanza administration was determined to help businesses grow and not ruin the industry.
Gachagua accompanied President William Ruto to Shauri Moyo, where they launched affordable housing projects.
