During a sting operation to flush out rogue bar operators at Mutomo Area, Kitui county, police arrested over 32 bar owners found selling illicit, second generation brews and operating bars without licences.
Mutomo Deputy County Commissioner Jacob Ouma said inhabitable buildings have been converted into bars hence risking the lives of revellers.
“Today it is a rental house, tomorrow a bar; some of the premises housing bars are dingy and do not meet the public health standards to be operational. We are shutting down such outlets in a bid to protect the health of residents,” he said.
The administrator lauded the public for waging a campaign to ensure the manufacture, sale and consumption of the killer brews is dealt with .
“We have arrested 22 operators 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.
He said no amount of intimidation from the manufacturers will slow down government’s efforts in wiping out the illicit trade.
Last year, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi ordered immediate closure of drinking joints as part of the ongoing crackdown on illicit brews and drugs in Kiambu county.
He noted there were more bars and clubs in the county than both primary and secondary schools combined.
“It is very sad to note that we have more bars and clubs in the county that both primary and secondary schools combined. Currently, the county has 777 primary and 369 secondary schools while it has 3,062 bars and clubs. This is unacceptable and must be checked,” Matiangi said.