No more bars please, Governor Kabogo tells Kiambu residents

The Kiambu County government will not license more bars, in a move aimed at combating alcoholism.

While issuing the order Thursday, Governor William Kabogo said: “We cannot have a situation where in every 30 business premises, 25 are bars. Shall we end up as a county of drunkards? This is unacceptable.”

Mr Kabogo, who spoke after opening a workshop for senior police officers in Ruiru, said his government, which was the first to write an alcohol control Act, plans to reduce the number of bars while regulating opening hours as required by the law.

The county government organised the workshop to discus ways of controlling the sale and consumption of illicit brews.

MUTUTHO

The announcement came shortly after National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse chairman John Mututho announced that Kiambu spends Sh14 billion on alcohol annually.

Mututho, who cited the findings of recent research, said Kiambu has over 400,000 alcohol drinkers. Each spends an average of Sh300 on booze every day.

Mr Kabogo said a committee he formed is already looking into the problem of alcoholism and the sale of illicit brews and will make its recommendations this week.

Meanwhile, the governor defended the decision by his government to purchase more vehicles for county administrators, saying they are meant to enhance service delivery.

He clarified that the county plans to buy 42 and not 72 vehicles as a section of MPs have claimed.
“It is true we have bought six vehicles and intend to acquire 36 more. There is nothing irregular about this and whoever thinks otherwise should report to the police,” Mr Kabogo said.