Over 18,000 unlicensed liquor outlets closed – Kindiki

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has announced that the government has shut down 18,650 unlicensed alcohol premises in the ongoing nationwide crackdown.

The CS said 6,500 outlets were licensed but had breached the rule prohibiting proximity to learning institutions, while another 12,150 premises were operating without licenses.

In addition, 14 distilleries operating illegally have been shut down, and their production equipment destroyed.

“We are working closely with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board as well as the veterinary department because we have had to close a number of agrovet stores which were being used to sell animal drugs mixed with other substances to generate hard drugs,” said Kindiki.

Kindiki spoke on Monday in Narok County, where he held a County Security Appraisal meeting with the County Heads of Security agencies.

He urged the security chiefs to upscale the war on illicit alcohol, narcotic drugs, and psychotropic substances.

The CS later inspected the ongoing construction of the Naivasha Deputy County Commissioner’s Plaza, which will also house other National Government Departmental Heads.

The Ministry of Interior is set to spend Ksh60 million to complete the project, with Ksh140 million already disbursed.