The Ministry of Interior has advanced its crackdown on public officers running bars and clubs on the side as Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua pushes for reforms and better regulation of the alcoholic manufacturing industry.
In a letter to all Heads of Departments dated March 13, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo reiterated that all public officers must shut down bars and clubs or resign from their positions.
He explained that the reforms were part of far-reaching measures announced by Interior CS Kithure Kindiki aimed at eradicating illicit brews, drugs and substance abuse in the country.
"It has been noted that the current level of trade, consumption and abuse of drugs and illicit alcohol in the country is a national security threat," he wrote in a letter copied to Kindiki and the Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.
"Further, all public officers currently operating bars are required to shut them down or resign from the service with immediate effect. Cross-referencing by the Public Service Commission and other agencies will be done to confirm compliance."
Some of the State officers affected include those working in the enforcement chain which includes the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), and the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA).
Others are Public Health, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), National Government Administrative officers (NGAO) and the National Police Service (NPS).
The directive succeeds a press briefing Kindiki made two weeks ago issuing 25 stern directives affecting the entire alcoholic beverages chain from the consumer to the manufacturers.
The CS suspended all licences and certification permits for second-generation alcohol and alcoholic beverage distillers and manufacturers issued by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
The manufacturers were then required to apply for fresh licenses and must have Quality Control (QC) laboratories installed with Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detector (FID).
" Any licences currently issued to bars and other outlets and premises by County Governments that are contrary to the provisions of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, especially as relates to licensing of premises within residential areas and around basic educational institutions are null and void. County Security Teams are to secure the shutdown and seizure of such premises with immediate effect," Kindiki directed.
Two weeks earlier, the CS, in the company of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, held a conference in Mombasa in an effort to lower addiction among the youth and accused some elected leaders of being in cahoots with drug lords.
The crackdown was intensified after illicit liquor killed 17 individuals in Mt Kenya.
