- The enforcement measures included a review of the legal framework applicable to the sector.
- Interior CS Kithure Kindiki announced the measures after over 20 people died from the consumption of illicit alcohol in Kirinyaga County.
Image: PCS
The Cabinet has endorsed measures rolled out by the government to fight illicit brews.
In a Cabinet dispatch Wednesday, the Cabinet ratified the 25-point enforcement measures.
Among the 25 measures was the 21-day suspension of all 52 licenses and permits issued by the Kenya Revenue Authority and the Kenya Bureau of Standards.
"In pursuit of the Administration's commitment of securing the health and well-being of all Kenyans, Cabinet was apprised of the progress made in the nationwide enforcement measures aimed at addressing access and consumption of killer brews, narcotic drugs, and psychotropic substances," the dispatch read.
The enforcement measures included a review of the legal framework applicable to the sector.
There was also the imposition of penalties on public or private officials who contribute to the death or material injury of persons through the sale of dangerous alcohol, drugs, or other substances.
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki announced the measures after over 20 people died from the consumption of illicit alcohol in Kirinyaga County.
Kindiki said the use of illicit brews, drugs and substance abuse majorly among teenagers, the youth and even the elderly, is now not only a grave social concern but also a threat to the wellbeing and sustainable future of the country.
Here are some of the measures announced to curb illicit brew, drug, and substance abuse in the country:
- Fresh license applications shall require manufacturers to have Quality Control (QC) laboratories installed with Gas Chromatography with a Flame Ionization Detector.
- All alcohol manufacturers shall establish and document all traders in their distribution chain and have procedures for ensuring full traceability from the factory to the consumer of alcoholic products manufactured for sale.
- The Kenya Bureau of Standards shall ensure that within 45 days, all industrial ethanol is denatured or marked with a denaturing agent (denatonium benzoate) to prevent diversion and/or the accidental use of industrial ethanol in alcohol manufacture.
- Any licences currently issued to bars and other outlets and premises by County Governments that are contrary to the provisions of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, especially as relates to licensing of premises within residential areas and around basic educational institutions are null and void.
- No bars or alcoholic outlets shall be allowed to operate beyond the stipulated operation hours.
- All manufacturers/distillers aware of counterfeits of their products and fail to report to the Anti Counterfeit Authority on the same shall be deemed complicit.
- Officers abetting, concealing, or colluding with any person to commit an offence under alcoholic drinks shall be liable as per law.
- All public officers in the enforcement/compliance chain shall not own and operate a bar directly or via proxy. All public officers currently operating such premises are required to shut them down or resign among others.