Bar owners accused of breaking alcohol law

County Commissioner Amos Gathecha has warned bar operators who are riding on the absence of a County Liquor Licensing Board to contravene the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act that they will be arrested.

Speaking after addressing chiefs and their assistants yesterday, Mr Gathecha said bar owners are taking advantage of the board's absence to operate without licences and outside the stipulated time.

He said Mututho laws also govern bar operators and ordered chiefs, their assistants and public health officers to crack down on those who contravene the law.

He said he had liaised with Governor Martin Wambora to fast-track constitution of the board in order to create order among bar operators.

"Bar owners went to court to contest constitution of the board since it was set up as interim and had not been appointed by the County Public Service Board. Now they are taking advantage of the gap to operate for 24 hours, some without licences," he said.

HIGH ALERT

Meanwhile, food hawking and mass catering at social gatherings have been banned in the county after one person was diagnosed with cholera.

County Health Chief Officer Peris Nyaga said health facilities in Mbeere South sub-county had received 69 cases of people suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea.

Ms Nyaga said they were on high alert and had increased surveillance after tests taken to the Government laboratory in Nairobi confirmed one person was ailing from cholera.

Ms Nyaga said the ban on open-air selling of food was to be effected across the entire county and that all hotels at Gategi were ordered shut.

"We have banned food hawking. We have also stopped all outside catering businesses and those wishing to continue should visit us for further instructions," she said.

Teachers have also been ordered to conduct a search on all pupils and destroy any food from home in order to avert transmission of diseases.