Two bar attendants and four revelers were Saturday night arrested in Keroka town, Nyamira County by police for contravening the government directive requiring bars to be closed by 6pm countrywide to give Kenyans time to be counted in the census.
The duo, Simon Kiage and Esther Moraa were found operating Ostrich, Queens and Kings bars respectively at around 8pm and were nabbed by police on patrol.
Nyamira County Commissioner Amos Mariba while confirming the incident to KNA said the two will face the full force of law for violating the directive to have bars closed to facilitate the census exercise.
“Government had issued a directive for closure of all bars by 6pm on the night of 24th and 25th to give Kenyans ample time to fully participate in the census exercise and anyone found contravening the order will be dealt with accordingly,” he stated.
He further revealed that four other people found drunk and disorderly in the said bars were arrested alongside the attendants and will also be charged before a court of law.
The administrator commended census officials for enumerating those on transit Saturday night at Keroka police station and the cooperation shown by travelers.
“We shall not relent to deal with anyone or anything that will try to taint the census exercise which is very crucial for proper planning in our country,” the county commissioner affirmed.
Mr. Mariba thanked residents for their cooperation and urged them to ensure they are counted before the exercise is officially called off.
The Commissioner had early Friday morning ordered for dismisal of a census official for mishandling of census gadgets which he gave out as collateral at a bar in Kisii County for failing to clear his beer bills.
By Deborah Bochere
