Liquor outlets shut down in Naivasha due to high licence fee

The Naivasha Bar Owners Association now wants the county government to review the annual liquor licences, terming the current fees as the highest in the country. [iStockphoto]

Over 20 per cent of liquor outlets in Naivasha have been closed down due to harsh economic times coupled with unfair trading practices.

The Naivasha Bar Owners Association now wants the county government to review the annual liquor licences, terming the current fees as the highest in the country.

This came as the county embarked on vetting of all liquor licences ahead of renewals this year.

The sector was adversely affected by Covid-19, which saw tens of outlets closed down and hundreds of workers across the country sent home.

According to the association secretary Joseph Maina, the high fees for liquor licences and harassment by law enforcers had adversely affected the sector.

"Despite employing tens of area residents, bar owners have continued to suffer at the hands of the county and law enforcers," he said during a consultative meeting with county officials.

Maina said bar owners were paying between Sh20,000 and Sh50,000 for liquor licence, a figure he termed as too high and unaffordable to many.

Naivasha sub-county administrator Catherine Muiruri said all bars within 300-metre radius of schools, churches, hospitals and estates will not get licences in line with the law.

"We are keen to bring sanity in this sector as it contributes a lot to the county economy," she said.