Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has ordered that all bars in the county be closed with immediate effect,
Speaking during the mass funeral of 17 people who died after consuming illicit brew on Saturday, February 17, 2024, the county boss directed all operations in drinking joints be suspended to allow new issuance of licenses.
Waiguru emphasized that her administration will only issue business permits to bar owners who do not have a history of selling illicit liquor.
"We have reached our end. I want you to allow me and give me protection. Today I want to announce that all bars in the county have been closed, and a new process of verifying the licenses has begun. The county government has withdrawn all the licenses with immediate effect," the governor stated.
Adding;
"Kama kuna historia ya mtu yoyote amepelekwa kortini kwa kukosa kulipa license ama kuuza pombe haramu hautapata license Kirinyaga county to operate."
The governor warned that leaders will not sit and watch as a few greedy individuals enrich themselves at the expense of the lives and welfare of the people in the county.
At the same time, Anne Waiguru asked 11 of her staff members working in the county to either ditch their bar businesses or continue working in her office.
"This is the directive from me, utachagua iyo bar ama kufanya kazi kwa county ya Kirinyaga," Waiguru noted saying the staff were being used to frustrate efforts to fight the selling of illicit brew.
