The Uasin Gishu County Security team says all bars will remain closed on August 9, 2022 – the day Kenyans are expected to go to the polls to elect new leaders.
According to Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Stephen Kihara, the decision to shut down all the bars in the county, on voting day, is based on the need to ensure locals get ample time to vote.
In a media briefing at the Deliverance Church in Eldoret town, on the sidelines of a meeting with over 500 youths, Kihara, however, said they will engage with bar owners, so as to agree on how the order will be effected.
Closure of the bars was one of the key proposals that the youth who attended the meeting gave as a measure to mitigate chaos.
“We will have a round table discussion with the Alcoholic Licencing Board and bar owners so as to ensure on that day we have sober persons participating in an election,” said the Uasin Gishu County Security Committee chairman.
Transport sector Eldoret
He also revealed that they are putting in measures that are meant to ensure normal activities continue in the county, during and even after the general election.
Among the key areas that Kihara says they are focusing on ensuring there are no disruptions, is the transport sector, with Eldoret being a transit town for the Northern Corridor, and hosting an international airport.
He noted that once election results are announced, nobody will be allowed to celebrate on the highway.
“The town is used for transportation of products from the Mombasa port to neighbouring countries, and this means celebrations must be away from the highway. We also have an airport that we will see to ensure free flow, in and out of it,” he noted.
The Eldoret International Airport is located along the Eldoret-Kapsabet road.
