About 114 bars owned by county and national government officials have been closed in Kirinyaga County since government declared war on illicit brew in the county. 

The 114 bars are among 400 bars that have been closed down by government after verification process that was commenced by multi agency team following death of 17 people who died after consuming poisonous liquor at Kangai Village in Mwea West last month.

Kirinyaga County Commissioner Hussein Allasow has confirmed that already 85 beer traders found operating bars without licences have been arrested and prosecuted.

Allasow has confirmed closing down of these bars saying that government will not allow such officials to operate such outlets. 

He says that the government is on high alert to ensure that the bars are not reopened adding that they have intelligence that they are trying to continue operating through proxies. 

Speaking after a media council security workshop at Kagio in Mwea West, the tough-talking administrator said all those bars owned by police officers and other civil servants from the national and county government of Kirinyaga were closed to avoid conflict of interests. 

He has called government officers in Kirinyaga to enforce alcoholic drinks control laws without favour and with no interest to protect lives of residents. 

“Nobody will die in Kirinyaga again for drinking chemical brew, we have to protect our people, we need them, the government need them,” Allasow said.

Additionally, the county commissioner has also banned collection of used alcohol bottles which are said to be used by illegal alcohol manufacturers to pack poisonous liquor. 

He said unscrupulous traders are hiring youth to collect those bottles and in return are used to restock the said liquor.