Nairobi County stops issuing new alcohol licenses
A bar in Nairobi. County officials have stopped issuing new liquor licences and will review existing ones for complinace. PHOTO | DENNIS ONSONGO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Bars in the city found to be within 300 meters of residential areas and schools.
- Ms Othoro said courts are frustrating city inspectorate efforts to close some bars.
- She said courts are issuing injunctions to stop closure yet Nairobi residents continue to blame City Hall.
The Nairobi City County government has stopped issuing new liquor licences and will review existing ones in a bid to control the number of bars and pubs sprouting in residential areas and near schools.
County executive for trade Anna Othoro said in a statement that officials have started re-licensing bars and that they will not allow new applicants who want to open bars get licences.
“We have enough bars, we will not license any new bars,” said Ms Othoro.
She said they will review licences applied for online to ensure that operators comply with the law, adding that the permits of non-compliant bar owners will be cancelled.
Ms Othoro said many bar owners carry provisional licences, which allow them to operate as they wait for the county to inspect their premises.
She said the county will inspect existing bars and close down those found to be within 300 metres of residential areas and schools.
She also said courts are frustrating city inspectorate efforts to close down some bars by issuing injunctions against closure but Nairobi residents continue to blame City Hall for not moving fast enough.
