A section of bar owners in Kirinyaga County on Wednesday, March 13, vowed to defy Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kidiki's orders which directed the closure of liquor stores across the country.
While opposing Kindiki's move, the traders termed the directive as illegal and therefore unconstitutional, a factor they noted gave no authority to the CS to stop their businesses.
The traders further noted that the directive to close down their businesses rendered many people jobless and thus denied several Kenyans the right to access their basic needs.
"The national government has contravened the constitution that leads the country. We will open our bars," the traders claimed.
According to the liquor store owners, anyone with a bar dated 2024 should reopen and continue with their businesses.
They further issued a warning to local administrative officers including the chiefs and the national government administrators against shutting down bars.
"We know the operational hours of bars, between 5 pm and 11 pm, these other things for instance chiefs coercing people to close their bars, that should not be the case," noted a bar owner.
"It is like the county of Kirinyaga has been put under a state of emergency for things we don't have an understanding of," added the trader.
On March 6, the Interior CS, Kindiki, directed the immediate closure of liquor stores located within the school and residential areas.
CS further announced revoking all the licences for companies that manufacture and distribute second-generation alcohol.
He clarified that the licences would be reviewed and issued afresh after the introduction of new guidelines which include the establishment of special laboratories in the liquor factories.
"County security teams are to secure shut down and seizure of such premises with immediate effect," Kindiki stated.
