Women stage demo to support Alcohol Act

Women in Murang’a County on Tuesday held a peaceful protest march in support of “Mututho Laws.”

They petitioned the Government not to relent in its efforts to regulate beer access and consumption especially among the productive youths.

Business came to a standstill as the women at one moment raided bars that were secretly selling beer and flushed out the patrons.

Led by the Murang’a County Maendeleo ya Wanawake chairperson, Mrs Jacinta Ng’anga, the women started their protest march outside the district headquarters after they were granted permission by Mr George Natembeya, the area DC.

“We are here to demand that the laws to govern consumption and sale of alcohol be implemented to the letter. While they were in force, our husbands had returned to our beds from the bars and were fulfilling their matrimonial obligations. Now they have gone back to the bars,” Mrs Ng’ang’a told the DC.

Carrying placards and chanting liberation songs, the women walked to Mukuyu trading centre where they took their anti-alcohol message.

Mrs Ng’ang’a railed at the Murang’a Bar Owners Association that recently went to court over the ‘Mututho Laws’.

High Court Judge John Mwera temporarily suspended their enforcement pending determination of the case.

Mr Natembeya said he identified with the women’s’ agony and that as far as he was concerned, the laws were still in place.

“You should not be demoralised by a few characters out to derail the government’s bid to instil discipline in liquor trade and consumption,” he said.

In the last one week, 17 people had been prosecuted and convicted of contravening the Mututho Laws, he added.

“All of them have been fined a total of Sh250,000 and those who defaulted have been sent to jail. We are serious,” he said.

But on Tuesday, alcohol lovers were handed more days to imbibe at any time of the day and night after the High Court extended orders halting implementation of the new alcohol law.

The order was extended until January 24, when High Court Judge Daniel Musinga is expected to make a ruling on the case.

A group of bar owners have gone to court seeking the Act’s dismissal.

Justice Musinga made the decision after hearing the parties in the matter. Attorney General Amos Wako is asking the court to dismiss the case.

Mr Wako says the bar owners who went to court and obtained a temporary order blocking the new law do not have the locus standi (authority) to bring the case as they don’t have operating licences.

The AG’s representative said this while making submissions in a case in which Muranga Bar Operators obtained orders last week to halt the law.

On Tuesday Nacada, the State Law Office together with MPs from central Kenya joined hands in fighting the case by bar operators saying the court should dismiss it.

The court was told that despite complaining of harassment and forced closure of businesses, the operators, have not brought any evidence to prove their claims.

A similar case was filed on December 27 by 55 Embu bar owners.

Reported by Mwangi Muiruri, Jillo Kadida and Richard Munguti