Thousands of bar owners in Murang'a will lose their licences after the county administration started implementing Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's anti-alcohol order.
The DP had directed administrators in Central Kenya to move with speed and reduce the number of bars and nightclubs across the region to address the menace of alcoholism.
The County Security Committee has now moved to effect the directive, revealing a new order that will see a reclassification of bars.
County Commissioner Karuku Ngumo said they will be fighting substandard liquor as well as making sure the bars reflect the “aspirations of a working nation”.
Village bars will be Level 1 bars, followed by those in small towns at level 2, medium towns (level 3), major towns (level F4) with nightclubs being level 5. Level 6 will be reserved for exotic clubs.
Over 2,000 new bar licences applicants will now be denied approval and the current 2,291 cut down to 1,000.
New applicants for 2023 alcohol licences are 4,647 in the whole county.
Maragua constituency has 985, Kiharu 952, Gatanga 842, Kandara 597, Kigumo 573, Kangema 412 and Mathioya 406.
The security committee now says those that will be allowed to operate will be classified under a new categorisation plan From Level 1 to 6.
Murang'a South Deputy County Commissioner Gitonga Murungi said, "bar owners should ready themselves for a crackdown".
"We will not have nightclubs in villages, small and medium towns and in major towns, only one will be licensed," said Murungi who briefed the media on behalf of the committee.
He said bars with a history of impunity will have their licenses cancelled.
"If you know you have been at loggerheads with the law where you have repeatedly been arrested for flouting the operation rules, selling substandard brands and being a hub for crime, simply forget your license," he said.
He said they will hold public participation with members of the public as well as the owners to develop working guidelines.
Murungi added that in all levels of bars to be licensed, none will be allowed to exist near schools, hospitals and places of worship.
The move now puts Gachagua in a precarious position after bar owners from the region accused him of killing hustlers' businesses.
The DP has maintained that there must be a balance between business and the lives of young people whom he said are perishing in alcohol consumption.
