Bar owners from Kiambu have cautioned some government officers against using the crackdown on illicit liquor to harass genuine traders.
Kiambu Liquor Welfare Association Secretary Amos Kibe asked members not to panic following a directive by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki outlining a series of measures to combat illegal alcoholic drinks and drugs including the closure of bars within residential areas.
“We urge our members to remain calm, particularly those properly licensed by the county government since they are doing genuine business. Licensing of liquor is a devolved function as per the Constitution and no directive can change this fact,” Kibe said.
However, he maintained that his group is not opposed to the government’s war on the sale and consumption of dangerous substances packaged as alcohol and vowed to support the initiative so long as it doesn’t target innocent traders.
“We are even ready to cooperate with the government in weeding out bad characters who are infiltrating the trade to market harmful substances,” said the official.
Kibe spoke as a section of bar owners expressed fears that they may be victims of overzealous and corrupt government officials out to make a kill by harassing genuine operators.
At Kenyatta Road in Juja Sub County, there was uncertainty among operators of pubs, many of which are situated next to residential areas.
“Although we have had no complaints from the residents, there is a possibility that some people in government may want to harass bar owners out of malice or for extortion purposes,” a manager at one of the clubs, who didn’t want to be named, said.
A pub owner from Witeithie Estate, also in Juja, James Wainaina said they are willing to abide by the regulations but said people doing genuine business should be shielded from greedy government officials out to harass them.
“We are in full support of the government’s war on illicit liquor and drugs which have been killing and ruining the lives of our people. However, this should not be an excuse for extortion by some wayward officers,” said Wainaina, the proprietor of Paparazzi Pub.
In Ruiru sub-county, bar owners remained apprehensive many of them waiting for official communication from the county government.
