Pain and agony as “Wamunyota” face Waititu’s alcohol lockout.
Beer and liquor fanatics on Thursday got a rude shock as the
immediate implementation of the Kiambu Alcoholic Drinks Control Amendment Bill
2018 took effect, just a day after it was signed into law by Governor Ferdinand
Waititu.
All liquor outlets within the county were ordered shut, locking
out ‘thirsty wamunyotas’ from their
favourite drinks forthwith.
A tour round Thika Town and its environs revealed that no
bar or wines and spirits outlets opened its doors for patrons and those that
did open, no activity took place other than stranded bar attendants conversing
in low tones, probably pondering the next move after the shutdown.
‘Thirsty’ revelers could be spotted hanging around their
favourite pubs hoping for a ‘miracle’ to happen to enable them quench their
irresistible thirst for the fermented hops.
Youth who frequent the wines and spirits joints were the
worst hit by this shutoff. Previously, they would just pop in any time of the
day or night and purchase their preferred “take aways” but this time, none of
them was open. Some were overheard saying that they were very willing to buy it
at even double the price to enable them “toa lock”.
Beer lovers could not understand why regular bars could be locked
considering the fact the products sold were legit and being operated via the
laid down laws.
“How can you close down a bar whose operations are within
the laws of this land? You cannot force us all to drink tea and sodas just for
personal reasons. If someone has an issues with bars, let him go and shutdown
East African Breweries and convert all these premises into churches if he so
wishes,” one of the disappointed beer lover reacted angrily after the bar attendant
told him that she could not serve him his favourite beer for fear of being the
first casualty of the new law.
Bar owners who talked in camera for fear of being victimised
accused the county government of being draconian in its operations, saying that
they never considered their plight as entrepreneurs before enforcing this law.
The bar owners feared that they would run into massive
losses, leading to so many job losses.
“They never gave us time. This law has just been rushed and
now they are pushing in into our throats without considering the losses we are
incurring due to the closure,” said one trader.
“Majority of us are servicing loans accrued from our
investments. Some of these alcohol delivered has not yet been paid for
notwithstanding that we have rent and bills to settle. How does he (Waititu)
expect us to pay all this if our businesses are nonoperational?” he questioned.
They contemplated going to court to seek redress over the
matter.
(Related story: Kiambu Assembly passes the Alcoholic and Water Bills into law.)
No bar had been paying licence fees since Waititu took over. Bar owners will have to reapply for licences through the sub-county alcohol committees. The teams will hold public hearings so residents can approve or disapprove the licensing of bars.
No bar had been paying licence fees since Waititu took over. Bar owners will have to reapply for licences through the sub-county alcohol committees. The teams will hold public hearings so residents can approve or disapprove the licensing of bars.
The law, among many other provisions, limits nightclub
operations from 2pm to 3am on weekends and has abolished retailing of wine and
spirits.
It also makes it illegal for any person who takes his
favourite drink to be found drunk and wobbling on the road, near a shop or any
other public place.
The new law prohibits any person aged below 21 years from
drinking alcohol or even gaining access to a bar and bans the manufacture,
distribution, storage, or offer for sale any illicit brew or any drink that has
been adulterated or diluted.
Kiambu County ordered for immediate closure of all bars on
Thursday, March 8 after Governor Ferdinand Waititu assented to the new law and
demanded operators to apply for fresh licences.
The governor has already commissioned a team of 79 enforcement
officers who will spearhead the crackdown on all those who will contravene
these laws.
Yesterday, Governor Waititu went to court seeking orders to
stop bar operators within the county from renewing their licenses pending the
hearing and determination of a suit.
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