Illegal alcohol sale crackdown: 25 Starehe bar owners arrested, 120 liquor stores shut

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has launched a crackdown in the fight against alcohol abuse in the city resulting in the closure of 120 liquor outlets and the arrest of 25 bar owners in the Starehe sub-county.

The multi-agency effort involved the Nairobi Liquor Department, Security and Compliance teams, and the National Police Service.

Operations were concentrated in various bus stations and terminals, including Country Bus Station, Muthurwa Terminus, Hakati Bus Station, Accra Road Terminus, Latema Road Terminus, and Old Nation Roundabout.

At the Country Bus Station, 10 liquor outlets were shut down, with four individuals apprehended for selling illicit brew and booked at Kamukunji Police Station.

Multi-agency security officers during the crackdown on liquor outlets on February 26, 2024. (Photo: NCCG)

Similar operations led to the closure of 20 outlets at Muthurwa Terminus, 18 at Latema Road Terminus, and 23 at Hakati Bus Station, with nine suspects arrested.

Additionally, 27 liquor stores were shut down at Accra Road Terminus, leading to the arrest of eight individuals, and 22 outlets were closed at Old Nation Roundabout, resulting in six more arrests.

The move comes as the crackdown on abuse of alcohol in the city intensifies.

Wines and spirits targetted

Sakaja's directive follows his previous order to clamp down on wine and spirits vendors situated at bus stops and terminals in the Starehe sub-county.

He insisted that disorder in the county would not continue under his watch.

Multi-agency security officers during the crackdown on liquor outlets on February 26, 2024. (Photo: NCCG)

The governor spoke in a meeting with the Chairman of the Federation of Public Transport sector, Public transport operators, public transport saccos and companies operating within the jurisdiction of Nairobi City County.

"We will no longer allow and tolerate disorder in the city. Nairobi is the capital city. I have directed the removal of all wines and spirits shops located around Matatu terminals and bus stops. Drivers and Touts are spending most of their time in these wines and spirits that have turned into bars and drinking dens as they wait for customers,” he said.

He added that many people have lost their lives due to recklessness on the roads caused by alcohol and drug abuse.

“We have even discovered that all these bars targeted have been operating without the required licenses,” he said.

Multi-agency security officers during the crackdown on liquor outlets on February 26, 2024. (Photo: NCCG)

“The Nairobi City County Alcoholic Drinks Control and Licensing Board and the Enforcement teams have my full blessings and support to rid this city of this unbecoming behaviour where young men and women start drinking at 9.00 am and expect to function properly. That will no longer be allowed in the Nairobi that we want.”

County Executive for Business and Hustler Opportunities, Maureen Njeri, highlighted that preliminary data revealed many liquor outlets are operating without licenses at bus terminals, contravening the Nairobi City County Alcoholic Drinks Control and Licensing Act of 2014.

She reiterated that the multi-agency crackdown aims to verify outlet licenses and prevent the proliferation of illegal alcohol outlets across the city.

“The Nairobi Liquor Department is in the process of collating data for the other outlets located in bus terminus across the other remaining sub-counties for closure in the coming days,” she said.