A lobby group has asked the government to stop threatening chiefs and their assistants over the increased sale of dangerous alcoholic drinks in licensed bars.
They said the two lowest cadres of administration are not involved in vetting and licensing of bars in their areas of jurisdiction.
Voice of Men and Children Network chairman Bishop James Njenga said that some of these chiefs end up carrying the cross which was not meant for them.
He was speaking in Limuru town in Kiambu county on Sunday.
Njenga said a lot of liquor licensing boards run by the county government do not invite chiefs to give comments and probably their views while licensing alcoholic drinks places.
He said as the government fights illicit brewers who do their jobs in rivers, they should also come up with a strategy for regulating those packing alcoholic drinks.
"Some bars open even during the day, they contravene the licenses they have. We report to chiefs, but they do not have the power to withdraw these licenses. They go round all trading centers begging the operators to close," he said.
"The chiefs are nicknamed and insulted by bar operators and drunkards simply because they are not members of the liquor licensing body and they cannot close or withdraw any license."
Njenga asked President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua to see that the law regarding the issuance of liquor licenses is amended.
"We can include these administrators in the body or else, we blame the police who are supposed to be arresting those breaking the law," he said.
He was accompanied by the Vomec secretary Josphat Njagi and Rift Valley Vomec coordinator John Kihiko.
Kihiko asked the government to cancel all licenses issued to bars so that operators may apply afresh and proper vetting be conducted.
He said some of the businesses issued with bar and restaurant licenses do not qualify, saying corruption has been at the forefront.
