Murkomen Moves to Shut Down Dozens of Nairobi & Kiambu Businesses

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said that the government will revoke licenses of all alcohol businesses and factories in Kiambu and Nairobi counties that engage in the sale and manufacturing of illicit alcohol.
Speaking in Kiambu Town on Monday, August 18, Murkomen noted that he will convene a meeting with security heads of both counties to deliberate on how the crackdown against such businesses will be undertaken.
Murkomen noted that despite the government granting these businesses permission to conduct clean operations, many have gradually reverted to the manufacturing and distribution of illegal alcohol, a trend he described as alarming, and have, in turn,compromised the health and well-being of citizensin the two counties.
“When we take action against illegal alcohol in Kiambu, we have to also do it in Nairobi, and there are some people in Nairobi and Kiambu who have licenses to sell and manufacture alcohol, but they are now making illegal alcohol,” Murkomen said.
“I would like to issue a stern warning to all those who have licenses to make and sell illegal alcohol, which is affecting Kenyans; we will revoke the licenses. We will also take legal action against the shops that are selling illegal alcohol in Kiambu and Nairobi,” he added.
Murkomen has further urged the two county governments to strengthen the requirements that one needs to have to establish an alcohol sale and manufacturing outlet to ensure that only a few individuals are granted these licenses.
“The county governments should also be vigilant because, for example, here in Kiambu, you find that in some places there are more alcohol sales points than even hotels; the county must rectify this trend,” Murkomen said.
Acknowledging the accelerating rate of drug abuse around educational institutions in Kiambu County, Murkomen claimed that thegovernment will also engage with educational stakeholders in the county to curb the distribution of drugs around these institutions.
“In these counties, we have cannabis sativa, especially the edible one that is sold in the disguise of food and is prevalent around tertiary institutions. And I have directed the subcounty security committees to ensure that they incorporate the leadership of these institutions to ensure that the students are protected,” Murkomen said.
Murkomen further stated that the government will alsoreinforce its crackdown against security headswho are colluding with such entities to facilitate the distribution of illicit alcohol in their respective areas.
The CS further noted that theNational Police Service (NPS)will also develop more strategies to ensure that police officers are considered for transfer within a shorter period to prevent them from getting familiar with an area and collaborating with drug dealers.
However, on the other hand, thegovernment will also ensure that it supports and rewards any security headwho demonstrates solid efforts in weeding out drug cartels in their respective area, by either promotion or other awards, according to Murkomen.