Baricho:Kirinyaga County Commissioner Shufaa Mwajuma has issued a stern warning to bar owners involved in the sale of illicit alcohol, as security agencies ramp up efforts to combat the issue across the region. Speaking in Baricho, Ndia Constituency at a meeting with National Government Administrative Officers and security officials, Mwajuma highlighted the recent confiscation of significant quantities of illegal substances, including 283 liters of Makavo, 49 liters of Muratina, and seven kilograms of bhang, along with 432 rolls of the same between August 1 and September 30, 2026.
According to Kenya News Agency, Mwajuma revealed that 54 cases related to illicit alcohol offenses are currently before the courts, with 28 suspects already arrested and presented during a three-day Rapid Response Initiative. Security teams have also conducted raids on 10 bars in Kirinyaga West Sub-County, uncovering several violations such as operating outside authorized hours and lacking necessary health compliance certificates.
Mwajuma urged bar operators to obtain all required licenses and certificates, emphasizing the need for customer protection from unsafe premises. She expressed concerns over bars operating dangerously close to schools, hospitals, and residential areas, calling for greater public participation in the licensing process and urging judicial officers to impose higher fines on offenders.
Dennis Itumbi, State House Head of Creative Economy and Special Projects, echoed the call for stricter fines and stressed the importance of protecting children from alcohol access in bars. He announced that the government, alongside the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), would intensify enforcement operations, particularly targeting bars near schools and enhancing rehabilitation support for individuals battling addiction.
Itumbi also warned manufacturers and suppliers against transporting alcohol into Kirinyaga during night hours, announcing the establishment of roadblocks to curb such activities. The government aims to prevent the influx of illicit alcohol from outside the county and promises rigorous enforcement against its manufacture and distribution.
