Nairobi County’s Liquor Licensing Department set out to map out all liquor outlets in the city in a bid to ensure compliance and create order. The move is also aimed at ensuring the creation of a well-regulated industry
The one-month mapping exercise set to commence in the coming days will ensure all liquor businesses are identified and captured in a database for purposes such as County revenue enhancement, compliance with set public health standards, aiding future county planning as well as the elimination of illicit and counterfeit alcohol.
Speaking during the opening session of a workshop for training of the Nairobi County team that will conduct the mapping exercise, Nairobi City county Deputy Governor, Njoroge Muchiri said that under the leadership of Governor Sakaja Johnson together they were working towards ensuring that order and dignity prevailed in the way business was being conducted in the city.
“It is my expectation that all bar and restaurant and outlet owners will accord this team the opportunity to gather this information without any issues, and they will be very helpful to them. I have a belief that this team will be able to work diligently to ensure that they enumerate all the liquor outlets in the 17 sub-counties in the city without fear or favor,” said the DG
“It is worth noting that some of these businesses employ Nairobians who have a duty to provide for their families; provide revenue for the county government, they pay fees and taxes, it is, therefore, the county government’s responsibility to ensure that we give them the necessary support to thrive, but at the same time we have to regulate their operations and ensure that they abide by the set laws. This exercise will be able to highlight to us some of the liquor outlets that are misplaced. We also in the spirit of collecting Our Own source revenue to commence tapping into our revenue collection capabilities.” Njoroge added
The liquor licensing function was devolved to the county governments after the promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya 2010. This function was previously performed by the national government under NACADA.
Said Maureen Njeri, County Executive, Business and Hustler Opportunities, “There is inadequate data available to show the exact number of liquor premises in Nairobi County Reports indicate that there could be more than 10,000 liquor operators. We will commence this exercise in the coming days in order to align all liquor establishments in the city to ensure compliance with the relevant statutory frameworks such as the Alcoholic drinks licensing and control act of 2014, EMCA 1999, Public Health Act, Noise Pollution and control regulations, Nairobi City County Physical and Land use planning Act, public nuisance act, Trade licensing Act and other frameworks which all operating business need to comply with in creating a well-regulated industry. This will also allow us to create a database of all operating liquor premises, which will bring accountability among the liquor business operators, create order, and enhance the revenue potential for the city.”
Speaking at the same event, Chief Officer of Business and Hustler Opportunities, Ziporah Mwangi said that the Liquor department had issued approximately 7,000 outlets with licenses enabling them to operate liquor businesses lawfully as mandated by the 2014 Act. “Going forward, we will ensure sound and informed decisions are made to streamline effective service delivery and equal business operating standards in all liquor business operations across Nairobi county,”
The mapping exercise will be conducted within Nairobi County and shall take place simultaneously in all 17 Sub-counties. Said Rhoda Otieno, Director, Liquor Licencing, “The mapping exercise will be conducted on liquor business premises only. The categories of businesses to be mapped out include; Retailers of alcoholic drinks( wines & spirits shops), Wholesalers, Distributors, Bars, and Restaurants, Night clubs, Members’ clubs, and Hotels.
The data collection exercise will entail the license status of premises, license fees paid, the status of other county licenses, type of business under the different liquor categories, and physical location of premises.”
