KENYA – Kenya’s National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) has announced a nationwide crackdown to close bars and other liquor dispensing outlets located near educational institutions.
In a statement, Nacada Chief Executive Officer Anthony Omerikwa said the crackdown will target establishments located less than 300 meters from schools or areas catering to individuals below 18 years of age.
“The crackdown will be executed in collaboration with relevant national and county government agencies and seeks to ensure strict compliance with legal requirements about the positioning of such outlets,” Omerikwa stated.
The initiative is anchored in the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act of 2010, which mandates legal action against any person who sells alcoholic drinks in prohibited locations. Violators may face a fine not exceeding Sh500,000, imprisonment for up to three years, or both.
Omerikwa emphasized that this initiative serves as a reminder to the community about their role in safeguarding the development and wellbeing of children. This crackdown is part of a broader effort by the government to curb alcohol and drug abuse, particularly among the youth.
On May 20, Nacada ordered the removal of billboards promoting alcoholic drinks near learning institutions, stating that such advertisements could create misleading impressions about the characteristics, health effects, hazards, or social effects of alcohol.
The Authority expressed concern that exposure to alcohol advertising near schools could encourage underage drinking.
This latest crackdown complements initiatives led by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua aimed at reducing the use of illicit brews and drugs among the youth.
The Interior Ministry reported that as of March 25, 2024, 18,650 unlicensed liquor joints had been closed. This included 12,150 premises operating without licenses across 47 counties and 6,500 others licensed contrary to national laws on proximity to learning institutions.
Additionally, 14 distilleries producing toxic illicit brews had been shut down, with their production infrastructure destroyed.
The crackdown is also a response to the growing concern about the prevalence of illicit alcohol in Kenya. Eric Githua, Chairman of the Alcoholic Beverages Association of Kenya (ABAK), recently revealed that 60 percent of all alcohol sold in Kenyan stores is illicit.
He warned that the proposed increase in the spirits excise tax from Kes356 (US$2.68) to Kes640 (US$4.82) per liter could worsen the problem by making legitimate alcohol unaffordable, thereby driving consumers towards unsafe illicit brews.
Githua urged the government to consider staggering the implementation of the tax increase over several years to mitigate its impact.
He pointed out that the high cost of legitimate alcohol is directly linked to the proliferation of illicit brews, which continue to pose significant health risks and claim lives across the country.
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