Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has vowed to continue with the crackdown to close wines and spirits outlets in matatu termini.
This is despite demands from a human rights defender who wants the Nairobi governor to lift the directive.
"We will not lift the directive. Even licences come with conditions, hence the inspection after licensing," Sakaja said on Tuesday.
The governor made it clear that the crackdown will continue until all outlets within the matatu termini are closed.
"We will not have a loss of lives on our roads because of wines and spirits outlets that have converted themselves into bars and are in the wrong locations," Sakaja said.
The governor issued the directive on February 23, 2023, during a meeting at Charter Hall after receiving a report from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) on the fatalities on Nairobi roads.
He ordered that the businesses above be closed within seven days.
Subsequently, through a memo dated February, County Secretary Patrick Analo Akivaga informed all chief officers and directors under the Office of the County Secretary of the commencement of the implementation of the order.
Governor Sakaja expressed concerns about the number of people dying on the roads due to reported alcohol abuse.
"In our stages and termini, madereva na touts wanakunywa sana.( drivers and touts are drinking a lot). The wines and spirits located at the stages, tutazitoa ( we shall remove them)," he said.
The governor ordered Tony Kimani, the Chief officer for Security to ensure that all wines and spirits around bus termini are cleared within seven days.
However, the human rights defender wants the governor to withdraw the word "all" from the directive.
In a demand letter addressed to Sakaja and head of County Public Service Patrick Akivaga, the human rights defender demands that the same be done within 48 hours from the date of the letter.
"In the circumstances, our instructions are to demand from you as we hereby do, the immediate and unconditional admission of liability together with the lifting of the impugned order/directive and its exemption of "all" the compliant businesses within 48 hours from the date of this letter," the letter dated March 4, reads in part.
The county boss reportedly risks being sued at the High Court's Constitutional and Human Rights Division, if he fails to adhere to the demands within the given period.
