MPs defeat move to extend drinking hours

Parliament has rejected an attempt to extend drinking hours.

MPs threw out an amendment and other changes proposed to the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act by Mt Elgon MP Fred Kapondi.

Mr Kapondi had proposed the changes arguing that there are practical challenges arising from the enactment and implementation of the Act.

He wanted the hours allowed to sell alcohol increased to 14, two hours to cater for opening the business and an hour for closure.

Apart from increasing the hours of sale, the MP who chairs the parliamentary committee on Administration and National Security had proposed to do away with part of the regulation prohibiting children from entering restaurants and other places where alcoholic drinks are sold.

He argued that Section 24 of the Act seems to imply that a family cannot have a meal together in family entertainment spots in clubs or restaurants where alcohol is sold if one of them is below the age of the majority.

Naivasha MP John Mututho, who drafted the Mututho law, scoffed at Mr Kapondi’s amendments saying they were a direct negative of what the original law intended to achieve.

“Surely, Hon Kapondi, as a father, as a legislator, you cannot sit here and allow Kenyans to die in bigger numbers than they are already dying because of alcoholism,” he said.

Several MPs opposed the amendments, terming them an enemy of economic progress.

Nominated MP Millie Odhiambo said commercial interests should never override the rights of children, citing amendments targeting children.

Mr Kapondi had argued that the law as it is was so restrictive to business growth and that it does not capture the interests of all Kenyans.

But Mr Mututho put up a strong defence, supporting his law with statistics from the National Authority for Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse showing the level of alcohol abuse among youth across the country.

“We have an alcohol problem in this country. A working nation cannot be based on a drinking culture,” he said.

“It can never be good for the economy,” he stated.

Other MPs opposing included Ndaragua MP Jeremiah Kioni and assistant minister and Kathiani MP Wavinya Ndeti.