City Hall to shut down pubs located in residential areas, near schools
Nairobi County Government is set to shut down bars built 300 meters within residential and schools in a crackdown on illegal liquor licenses.
City hall has also stopped the issuance of new liquor licenses pending a review on the existing ones. This is in a bid to curb on the number of bars sprouting in residential areas and near schools in the city.
County Executive for Trade Ms Anna Othoro announced on Monday that they have started relicensing bars in the city and no new applicants will get licenses.
ENOUGH BARS
“We have enough bars, we will not license any new bars, none whatsoever. It’s an executive order and we have decided that’s it ,” said Ms Othoro in a statement on Monday.
Among those to be affected are bar owners who successfully applied for licenses online. Their premises will be inspected afresh, and those found to flout city by-laws, closed down and their licenses revoked.
Ms Othoro said the courts have been frustrating the crackdown on unlicensed bars and entertainment spots through injunctions.
“I appeal to judiciary to avoid granting (such) orders… the cases are never prosecuted and we are barred from proceeding with our mandate for fear of contempt,” said Ms Othoro.
