Several bars, chemists, agrovet outlets and non-compliant businesses in Taita Taveta County have been closed down following a crackdown by security agencies aimed at curbing the increased rate of drugs and substances abuse in the region.
This follows a multi-agency operation which kicked off on Thursday last week and saw several liquor outlets in the county shut following a directive issued by Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Prof. Kithure Kindiki on the sale of alcoholic drinks.
The operation, led by Taita Taveta County Commissioner Josephine Onunga, targets bars, businesses, chemists, and agrovets operating without licenses and running beyond the stipulated hours.
Speaking on Monday during a press briefing at the County Commissioner’s office in Mwatate after a performance review meeting on the national fight against illicit brews, drugs and substances abuse with security teams from across the four sub-counties of Mwatate, Wundanyi, Taveta, and Voi, Onunga noted that they have conducted several raids that have seen a number of non-compliant outlets closed as the perpetrators were taken to court while others were awaiting their date with the courts.
“In Taita Taveta County, we have challenges of drugs and substances abuse. We have the illicit brews, chang’aa, mbangara, and the second generation brews that are common especially at centres along the highway,” said Onunga,
She said over 200 people dealing in illicit brew have been arrested so far stating that since the raid started, they have been able to get illegal local brews including 1,000 litres of pasha, 2,500 litres of kangara, 5,000 litres of mbangara and 200 litres of chang’aa.
Onunga further stated that they have closed down six non-compliant bars, five chemists, and 3 agrovets that were operating against the NACADA rules on drugs and substance uses.
The Commissioner warned those operating drug businesses to ensure that they are legalized, licensed, and authorised to sell the drugs.
“Anybody selling alcohol or liquor must ensure that they are dully vetted and authorised to conduct the business and they must sell liquor that is safe and fit for human consumption,” she said.
“We are fully supporting what the national government is doing to end impunity in this sector to save our people, our youth and to save the economies of our counties as well as saving our communities from poverty,” added Onunga.
Onunga noted that alcoholism has led to increased rape cases amongst the young people, increased school dropouts, divorce amongst the married people, and splitting families; causing high rates of street children and posing a threat to the development of the nation.
The CC noted that bars operating within residential areas and those near learning institutions were operating against the law and were earmarked for closure, adding that her teams in the sub counties have been enjoined in the campaign to restore sanity in the sector.
She said the security teams has mapped out the illicit brew hotspots across the county and were on toes to ensure the situation is contained, adding that Voi and Mwatate Sub-counties have been mapped out as areas with high rate of illicit brews consumption.
In Voi Sub-county, Tanzania, Maweni, and Kasarani have been termed as the thorns in the flesh in the fight against the menace and have been mapped out as hotspots on drugs and substances abuse following the cosmopolitan nature of Voi town.
“Voi being a cosmopolitan place, being on the highway, is our biggest challenge in this fight against illicit brews, drugs and substances abuse. We are enhancing our activities and we will weed out this behaviour,” she said, adding that the same challenges that were in Voi were also experienced in Mwatate which is also a fast-growing town in the county.
“Whoever is in the business of alcohol and is legit and is selling alcohol must follow laws and regulations to the letter. Whoever is doing pharmacy work must only dispense what is prescribed legally and by a legal person who is authorised,” she noted.
The County Commissioner concluded by stating that they have received immense support from the county government, religious organisations, and school management noting that, “schools particularly because of our children, is the place that we are really watching to make sure that our children are safe and they learn in safe environment.”
On his part, the County Police Commander Sadiq William noted that their work is to enforce whatever is legalized, adding that if it’s not legalized, they will never allow them to operate.
He noted that if any liquor outlet was found selling alcohol in contravention of the law, their licenses would be revoked and the perpetrators taken to court.
By Arnold Linga Masila
