The government has closed down 13,800 bars across the country that have been operating without licenses and selling beer near schools.
Interior CS, Kithure Kindiki, announced in Kajiado on Saturday that out of the number, 4,800 premises were closed down for selling alcoholic drinks near public and private schools.
The CS said 9,000 premises that have been closed down were operating without valid licenses.
“We have closed down and destroyed the production capability of 12 distillers across the country that were operating outside the law,” said Kindiki after meeting with all service commanders in Kajiado.
He said that for the distillers and manufacturers who had been licensed, the government suspended all the licenses for 21 days.
“They are being vetted and we will announce the results of that vetting. All the licenses which are now suspended, if they do not meet the quality test in terms of protecting the public health and security, we will revoke them,” said the CS.
The CS was talking to journalists after concluding a government routine review meeting with the Kajiado County security and intelligence team led by county police commander David Mburukwa.
“This is a routine meeting which we are doing across the country so that we can understand the challenges our officers are facing,” said the CS.
He said Kajiado County has many cases of land fraud around Kitengela, Isinya, Kiserian and Rongai.
“We are going to crack down on land fraudsters and any person who is involved, whether he is a member of the private space or a public officer in the government, we will punish them according to the country’s provision of the law,” the CS said.
He said that the fraudsters are frustrating genuine landowners by issuing and obtaining fraudulent land titles to defraud those who have legally acquired their lands.
The CS also said there is a problem with people, who have encroached on public lands.
“There are also people pretending to own land in Kajiado but the titles they have are fraudulent ones,” he said.
The CS said the security agents will enhance surveillance along the Athi River - Namanga Road to protect the country from criminals, including human traffickers, drugs and contraband trade in the transportation of illicit ethanol.
“This is a perpetual campaign and here in Kajiado, progress has been made and we have arrested 400 who will face the law for the various offences,” said the CS.
He said that in Kajiado alone, 500 establishments, which have been operating without valid documents and selling beer near schools have been closed down.
