Court Stops Kindiki’s Order to Close Bars
A High Court in Kisumu has suspended Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki’s order regarding the closure of bars in the country as part of the fight against illicit brew.
The court made this decision in response to a petition filed by the Kisumu Bar Owners Association challenging CS Kindiki’s directive. Kindiki’s order, issued on March 6, mandated the closure of bars operating near residential areas and schools, as well as those owned by civil servants, in an effort to address conflicts of interest.
The court, in its ruling, temporarily halted Kindiki’s directive pending a hearing to address the matter.
It stated that “pending hearing and determination of the application dated 8th day of March 2024, stay of the 1st Respondent’s directive issued by the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Interior & Coordination of National Government on the 6th March 2024 for the closure of all bars in Kenya and Kisumu County be and is hereby granted.”
Meanwhile, in Kirinyaga County, 114 bars owned by county and national government officials were closed as part of the government’s crackdown on illicit alcohol trade.
Kirinyaga County Commissioner Hussein Allasow Hussein emphasized that these bars would not be allowed to reopen, despite attempts by some owners to transfer ownership to third parties.
He stated, “Some of them are trying to quickly transfer them to third parties but they won’t succeed.”
The government has directed public officers who own or operate bars to either close them down or resign.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki cited conflict of interest as a major impediment to enacting laws aimed at eradicating illicit spirits and narcotic drugs.
Kindiki made these comments during a visit to the North Rift Valley on Monday. He emphasised that public officers in security, law, and order enforcement organisations who own or are affiliated with alcohol enterprises must either close them or resign.
The CS announced plans to move roughly 40,000 police officers who had been stationed in the same places for over three years. This effort intends to improve national security.
Kindiki announced at Trans Nzoia County Kitale headquarters after a security meeting that the government had begun adopting a three-year transfer policy for police officers.
He announced that the government will reassign cops who have been in a single police station for more than three years within the next month. He has already relocated more than 10,000 officers, and plans call for a total of 42,500 moves.
Kindiki advised political leaders to avoid participating in the government’s campaign against illegal brews, citing conflicts of interest among law enforcement officers involved in the alcohol industry.
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He emphasised that, regardless of whether such firms are legitimate, public workers working in law enforcement must either close them or resign. Kindiki emphasised the issue’s non-political nature, stating that it concerned law enforcement. He emphasised that following government guidelines was mandatory.
The CS stated that Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome and other stakeholders were working together to ensure full implementation of guidelines in the fight against illicit brews, leaving no opportunity for error.
