Bars and restaurants in Nairobi face clamp down

Nairobi city county excutive member on trade,industrilzation,cooperative development and tourism Ann Othoro addressing the press at her office yesterday.10/7/14-BEVERLYNE MUSILI

Nairobi, Kenya; An estimated 30,000 bars and restaurants in Nairobi have less than 20 days to get new liquor licences or risk being closed.

All outlets within residential areas also face closure after two months vetting by the Nairobi City County Alcoholic Drinks and Licensing Board.

County Executive Committee Member in charge of Trade and Industrialisation Anna Othoro warned that all the bar owners should make fresh application for the licences, and obtain new business permits before the end of this month.

“Any bar or restaurant operating in the residential areas must be relocated to commercial areas. We have given them up to the end of this month for the business owners to make fresh application of the liquor licences,” said Othoro.

The board, chaired by former Nairobi Mayor George Aladwa, will be charged with  issuing the licences after vetting the premises and the drinking outlets at Sub-County level.

Statistics from City Hall indicate there are about 30,000 drinking outlets within the city. Dagoretti South lead with a total of 400 outlets. Out of these, only about 60 per cent get proper licences every year.

In a move aimed at controlling illicit liquor and protecting under-age Kenyans from consuming alcohol, the county has warned that it will revoke the licences of business owners and investors who fail to comply with the directive.

Unscrupulous OWNERS

Already, a team -comprising public health officers and officials from National Campaign Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse and the 17 Nairobi sub-counties- has started inspecting the drinking outlets.

 

Addressing the Press yesterday, Othoro warned bar owners that the board will revoke and shut down bars, restaurants and pubs operating in residential buildings.

The board will also be charged with looking at the conditions of the premises and how clients are handled. It will also inspect if the owners have complied with the law.

Unscrupulous business people who play cat and mouse games with the City Inspectorate over availability of the Single Business Permit and the liquor licences are in for a rude shock, since the officials will be working in shifts, day and night.

“Every person involved in the sale, distribution and manufacture of alcoholic drinks must ensure they get the new licences. The board has the powers to revoke licences, arrest the owners or close down any business operating without proper legal documents,” added Othoro.

DISHONEST OFFICIALS

And to shield bar owners from impostors masquerading as county officials, Othoro directed that officers doing inspection and vetting must identify themselves by producing official badges.

She warned the public not to give any money to the officers in the field, and instead make payments at City Hall Annex trade and industrialisation department.

“We are appealing to the public not to give any money to our officers in the field. All the money must be paid at the City Hall Annex, where official receipts will be given,” said Othoro.

The two boards are expected to generate over Sh1 million from the licensing fees annually.