Anxiety gripped revelers in parts of Murang’a County after expired liquor was found stocked in several bars.
A multiagency team stormed several drinking dens in Kandara Sub- County On Wednesday and confiscated consignment of expired liquor from a local company being sold to unsuspecting customers.
The raid led by Murang’a East Deputy County Commissioner, Kepher Marube also nabbed counterfeit cigarettes found in a retail shop in Maragua town, with a shopkeeper exposing a chain involving a Murang’a based distributor who had supplied 4,200 sticks a week ago.
The shocked trader produced the receipts to prove to the team the source of the counterfeits products.
Marube said the expired liquor was dangerous to consumers, saying owners of the bars will face charges of stocking outdated beer.
“People have been consuming expired beer and it’s lucky we have found the liquor, which we will destroy including second generation brews we have confiscated in some drinking dens,” added Marube.
The team seized the liquor despite protest from bar attendants who linked it to a distributor based in Thika.
During the crackdown, three bars were found to be sharing a license issued by Murang’a County government on May 25, contrary to the liquor control laws.
Marube said the discovery of the rot in the liquor sector was done by crew from Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Nacada, and Kenya Bureau of Standard (Kebs), and the department of public health that is currently combing parts of Murang’a in efforts to weed out counterfeits.
“Any trader who will be found selling expired products will be treated like criminals with intention to kill their customers,” said Marube saying cartels in business have found ways to accessing expired products in the ware house of manufacturers.
He stressed that the team will enhance patrols and crackdowns to nab those who are selling illegal liquor and operating without valid license.
County Government liquor enforcement officer, Jonathan Munene said a team was authenticating licenses issued by his department warning those who have acquired operating licenses through back door.
“Presently the team is summarizing issuance of licenses to traders. Soon, we will enforce the law arresting those flouting county liquor regulations,” said Munene.
By Bernard Munyao
