- A week ago the government ordered for a review of licenses for more than 2,000 bars and entertainment joints in Eldoret and other parts Uasin Gishu.
- Bii has ordered the County Alcoholic Control Drinks Board to ensure that illicit alcohol reportedly from a neighbouring country is not sold in Uasin Gishu.
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Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii has ordered for closure of all night clubs and bars that operate in residential areas in Eldoret due to increased abuse of alcohol and drugs among youth.
Bii said most of the bars and clubs are operating illegally and allow children to engage in drinking alcohol, among other vices.
“We now have bars and clubs at every corner in residential areas and estates and that is unacceptable if we really care about the morals in our society,” the governor said.
Bii said during prayers in Eldoret that there is an increase number of young people using drugs and alcohol in the county with many of them forced to drop out of schools.
He asked church leaders and parents to remain vigilant and pray for young people for a better future.
A week ago the government ordered for a review of licenses for more than 2,000 bars and entertainment joints in Eldoret and other parts Uasin Gishu in a move to help deal with increased sale of poisonous and illicit alcohol.
Uasin Gishu county commissioner Dr Eddyson Nyale and Bii have declared the alcoholism problem in the region as a crisis and pledged to apply all possible intervention measures.
Dr Nyale said they had held joint meetings with the governor’s team and agreed that all the bars must comply with existing regulations so as to continue operating.
“Those who don’t comply will be shut down immediately and we are starting off with an inspection of the bars so that those contravening the law will have their licenses revoked immediately,” Dr Nyale said.
He said all bars must also operate within required time and those who don’t do so will also lose their licenses.
The county commissioner said they had also identified 10 illegal brands of illicit alcohol imported into the country without going through necessary testing and licensing.
“We will work with Kebs [Kenya Bureau of Statistics] And KRA [Kenya Revenue Authority] to ensure that such illegal brands do not get into our region,” the county commissioner said.
Governor Bii has announced the formation of a task force to investigate the root cause and ways to curb increased abuse of alcohol and drug in the region.
The county chief said the county will work closely with the police and other relevant institutions to stop wide sale of the alcohol in most parts of the county.
He also said a survey in most urban and rural areas in the county indicated that many youth, including school children were engaging in extensive abuse of the alcohol, which had turned out to be a major health risk.
Governor Bii said his administration would also carry out outreach programmes to sensitise residents on the dangers of the illicit alcohol.
The governor has ordered the County Alcoholic Control Drinks Board to ensure that illicit alcohol reportedly from a neighbouring country is not sold in Uasin Gishu.
He said some of the alcoholic products in question are brought in using lorries and police should help to stop those engaged in such business.
(edited by Amol Awuor)