- In some areas, residents' associations had complained of loud noise by the bars, while some were near learning institutions.
- The county director said some residents had complained and even moved to court and obtained orders on such clubs.
Image: JOSIAH ODANGA
National Assembly Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi has alleged targeting of private businesses for closure by government officials in the ongoing war on illicit brews.
The government on Wednesday declared an all-out war on illicit liquor with Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki directing police to close down all bars operating near schools and in residential areas.
The CS also directed police to ensure strict compliance with alcohol sale regulations.
In Kisumu, more than 20 bars and alcoholic drink outlets have been closed following the directive.
The operation, which started on Thursday by a multi-agency team, saw some of the big bars closed.
Kisumu Central deputy county commissioner Bosek Lang'at told the Star that out of the total outlets closed, 16 are bars close to schools and residential areas while eight are second generation alcohol outlets.
He said the law is very clear that bars must be 300 metres away from school yet some are 50 metres apart from the school, hence the shutdown.
Some of the big bars and alcoholic drinks outlets include Mamba, Da Vundu, Bistro, Nyalenda Wines, Makuti, Wigwa and Olympia, among others.
The DCC said already five people operating outside the stipulated time have been arrested and appeared at Winam law courts on Friday morning.
"The raid is currently going on and we will also be targeting outlets that also sell the shisha," he said.
He added that they will not relent on the war until they are done.
The Kisumu county director of Alcoholic and Beverages, Liquor Licensing Collins Okoth expressed support for the raids.
He said the move by the national government will end impunity in this sector, where some cartels are defiant of the law.
Okoth revealed that in Kisumu Central alone, 77 outlets were illegally operating without liquor license. In Kisumu East 16 outlets are set for targeting, Muhoroni subcounty (13), Nyakach (20) and Seme (10). Mapping is ongoing in other areas.
He added that some bars had genuine licenses, but they were selling shisha, changaa and waragi.
In some areas, residents' associations had complained of loud noise by the bars, while some were near learning institutions.
The county director said some residents had complained and even moved to court and obtained orders on such clubs.
Following the raids, a crisis meeting was set-up with different enforcement agencies who agreed to embark on fresh raids from Monday targeting Central and Kisumu East.
The meeting was attended by county and national government officials, including top security officers from the Kenya Police Service, Administration Police Service and Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
"We will only target premises licenced by the counties while the issue of second generation of manufacturers will be dealt with by the state," Okoth said.
Currently, all such licenses and permits are issued by the Kenya Revenue Authority and Kenya Bureau of Standards.
Going forward, manufacturing and distilling premises will remain closed and subjected to fresh vetting and will only resume operations after receiving new approvals.
However, the crackdown has elicited sharp criticism from Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi who says the indiscriminate clampdown on bars and hotel businesses must be strongly condemned.
He said the implementation of the edict has caused untold suffering to legitimate business owners, singling out Kisumu.
"However well-intentioned the move could have been, it is now targeting licensed businesses operating well outside residential areas and estates. A case in point is the Mamba hotel in Kisumu, a facility that has operated legally for decades. It has now been shut down," he said.
The Minority leader said illicit alcohol consumption is not a problem in western Kenya region.
The MP said the biggest problem in the region is unemployment, which the government should deal with urgently.
"Paradoxically, the forceful closure of licensed alcohol businesses will only compound the problem of joblessness and escalate crime levels in the region," he said.
"We demand that the government immediately review this ill-conceived policy, allow the unconditional reopening of all legal businesses and compensate the owners for losses incurred so far."