Seven people were arrested in Narok town for flouting alcoholic drinks regulations after a multi-agency team mounted a crackdown in the area.
The multi-agency team consisted of officers from National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO), National Police Service and National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), who held a day long crackdown exercise in the town.
The operations were led by NACADA South Rift regional manager Robert Olweny, who said their aim is to ensure all outlets that sell alcoholic drinks complied with the laid down regulation.
He decried that a number of premises visited had not fully complied with the Alcoholic Drinks Control Acts, forcing them to shut the promises until they comply.
The manager noted that all Alcoholic Beverage licenses expired on August 31st and the dealers were given a grace period of one month to ensure they renew their certificates.
“We are going round to find out if the alcoholic premises have renewed their certificates and complied with the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act,” he said.
He noted that some of their findings were that many premises were selling alcoholic drinks before the stipulated time and a number of wine and spirit shops were allowing their customers to consume alcohol at their shops.
“The law does not allow one to purchase alcoholic drinks and consume them in wine and spirit shops. The purchasers should carry them in their specific homes to consume there,” he said.
Narok Central Assistant County Commissioner (ACC) Abdi Shakur Ali said the seven arrested were managers and sellers who had flouted the law.
Shakur warned that the impromptu crack down in the town will continue hence called on alcoholic drink dealers to be vigilant to observe the law.
“All premises should adhere to the public health standards, ensure you do not sell alcohol to children and your business premises should be more than 300 meters from a school or church. These are some of the regulations they are expected to observe.
By Ann Salaton
