Police in Mutomo area of Kitui County have arrested over 32 bar owners found selling illicit second generation brews and operating bars without licences.
Speaking on Monday during a sting operation to flushout rogue bar operators at Ikanga shopping centre, the Mutomo Deputy County Commissioner (DCC), Jacob Ouma lamented that inhabitable buildings have been converted into bars hence risking the lives of revelers.
“Today itis a rental house, tomorrow is a bar; some of the premises housing bars are dingy and do not meet the public health threshold to be operational. We are shutting down such outlets in a bid to protect the health of residents,” said Ouma.
The administrator applauded the members of the public for waging a campaign to ensure the manufacture, sale and consumption of the killer brews is dealt with once for and all.
“We have nabbed 22 in Mutha, four in Mutomo and six in Ikanga trading centres. They have been operating without the required business and public health permits,” said Ouma.
Ouma said that no amount of intimidation or threats from the manufacturers will slow down the government’s efforts in wiping out the illicit trade that has rendered majority of youth, who form the bulk of the country’s labour force, idle.
“The second generation brands found in several bars do not have an expiry date as is the practice in business
of ensuring quality goods for human consumption,” said the DCC.
He commended police officers for being proactive in the fight against the illicit liquor, adding that the gesture will
help restore the force’s lost confidence among Kenyans.
Ouma asked business owners operating the trade to seek genuine licenses from the government so that they engage in legitimate business rather than endangering the lives of Kenyans through selling hazardous alcohol to unsuspecting members of the public.
The DCC said the operation agains t the killer brews across the sub-county has intensified with the support of elected leaders and wananchi.
Ouma took puton notice bar owners selling the illicit brew terming their licenses null and void until a multi-agency team vets them afresh to ensure compliance.
The administrator called on bar traders to come out and be vetted afresh and get duly certified licenses to enable them engage in profitable ventures that are not shrouded in outlawed goods.
By Yobesh Onwong’a
