NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 26 — Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome wants the licensing of liquor stores to revert to police citing national security concerns.
Speaking in Mombasa during a conference to discuss the alcohol and drug abuse menace, Koome claimed that County Governments cannot be trusted to perform the task because they are conflicted.
“I am requesting DP Gachagua for a change of law so that the licensing of liquor stores can be done by the police because it is a security issue,” Koome stated.
“Truth be told, Governors should not be issuing the licenses because all they look at are the votes and revenues, they forget the security aspect,” he explained.
The realization of Koome’s requirement would require an amendment of the Constitution which allocates control of drugs as a county function under the Fourth Schedule.
His appeal came days after the Interior Ministry and the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) urged county governments to scale up liquor licensing and enforcement amid a rise in unregulated outlets.
NACADA expressing concern over the proliferation of wines and spirits dens in parts of the country.
Citing an incident in Kirinyaga where five people died while six others suffered vision impairment after consuming alcohol at a local bar, NACADA called on the sub-national government to review their enforcement processes.
Koome further ordered the arrest of unidentified drug barons within Mombasa in four days.
“I am here on official duties for about four days. We must get a baron within those four days, you have no option,” the IG told local security chiefs.