NYERI, Kenya Feb 28 – Manufacturers of adulterated alcoholic beverages in Nyeri County now face hefty fines of up to Sh10 million or a ten-year prison sentence following the unanimous passing of a new alcoholic bill by the Nyeri County Assembly.
The bill, aimed at curbing the sale of poisonous drinks that have resulted in the deaths of twenty individuals in nearby Kirinyaga County, imposes severe penalties on those found guilty of adulterating alcoholic drinks.
“Any person found manufacturing an alcoholic drink adulterated with impurities, prohibited substances, or additives commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding ten million shillings and, upon conviction, a ten-year imprisonment or both,” reads the bill.
Distributors who knowingly distribute such drinks will also face penalties, including a fine of Sh2 million or a two-year imprisonment.
Furthermore, bar owners selling such adulterated drinks will be subject to a fine of half a million shillings, a two-year imprisonment term, or both. Additionally, their licenses will be revoked, and they will be barred from obtaining similar licenses for the rest of their lives.
Assembly Speaker James Mwangi emphasized that the bill now awaits Governor Kahiga’s assent before enforcement by the police.
“As an assembly, we have taken decisive action to combat the sale of illicit brews. We hope these laws will deter any sales that could endanger lives or result in fatalities,” stated Mwangi.
Nyeri County becomes the second in the Mount Kenya region, after Nyandarua, to pass such legislation. The bill also strengthens the licensing process for bars and restaurants, with the County Liquor License Board and the Public having a significant say in granting operating permits.
During a meeting last year aimed at curbing the sale of harmful brews in the region, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua urged county assemblies to enact laws to support the national government in its fight against such illicit practices.