Public officers owning bars ordered to shut them down or resign

The government has given public officers two ultimatums on operating bars.

Interior CS Kithure Kindiki on Tuesday ordered the Public officers to immediately shut down such premises or resign from their positions.

This is in line with the Public Ethics Act.

"All public officers in the enforcement/compliance chain (KRA, KEBS, ACA, Public Health, NACADA, NGAO, NPS etc) shall not own and operate a bar directly or via proxy," Kindiki said.

"All public officers currently operating such premises are required to shut them down or resign from the service with immediate effect," he added.

Kindiki added that Cross-referencing of the Public Service Commission, National Police Service Commission and distinct agency staff records shall be undertaken to secure compliance thereof.

Last month, it was announced that  National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) as well as police officers will not be allowed to own bars anywhere in the country.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua made the announcement on behalf of the President citing what he termed as a clear conflict of interest.

“So I want to announce here on behalf of the president. If you are a police officer and you own a bar. Resign and run the bar. Or stop operating the bar and continue working in the service,” Gachagua said.

“There is no way a chief, an assistant county commissioner or commissioner or police officer can own a bar anywhere in the country. That is a clear conflict of interest and it is not possible," he added.

The Deputy President urged any police officer who owns a bar to make a choice: either resign from their position and run the bar or cease operating the establishment and continue their service within the police force.

He was speaking at the mass funeral service of 17 people who died after consuming deadly illicit liquor at  Kangai and Kandongu villages of Mwea-West Sub-county in Kirinyaga County.