All police officers and members of the national administration have been banned from owning bars anywhere across the country in a decisive move aimed at addressing the conflict of interest.
The officers, according to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua will now choose to either resign or continue running their businesses.
"I want to announce here on behalf of the president that 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," he said.
Speaking during the burial service for the 17 people who died after consuming poisonous brew in Kirinyaga, the DP said security officers were also the weaklings in the fight against illicit brew.
He said there is no way a chief, an assistant county commissioner, or commissioner or police officer can own a bar anywhere in the country.
“You either work as a police officer or run a bar. You cannot protect the law which you also flout. That is a conflict of interest,” Gachagua said.
Gachagua at the same time stated that no police officer would be transferred to another area after any misconduct and that those who have failed in their responsibilities would be sacked.
"We are not going to transfer you, because we do not want you to take that disease to another area," he said.
His remark came after Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru issued a similar warning to her staff at the county.
Waiguru said she was aware that some county officers are running entertainment joints in various parts of the county.
The victims of the illicit brew are said to have consumed it at Kangai and Kandongu villages.
During the same event, Waiguru ordered the immediate closure of drinking joints in the county pending a fresh verification process.
Expressing deep concern over the fraudulent system of license issuance to bar owners, Waiguru announced the suspension of operations for these establishments and initiated a comprehensive process to verify and vary their operational permits.
"We have reached our end. I want you to allow me and give me protection. Today I want to announce that all bars in the county have been closed, and a new process of verifying the licenses has begun," she said.
