Locals within the Marura trading centre on the outskirts of Eldoret town have demanded the revocation of licenses issued to all bars and liquor-selling joints in the area.
The locals say no bar will be allowed to operate in the area going forward.
They have since presented a petition to the Uasin Gishu County Alcoholic Drinks Control Board.
Last week, the locals staged a protest to lament over an increase in illicit liquor consumption especially among the youth.
The situation, the locals said, had negatively affected the productivity of the young in society.
And following the protests, local administrators on Wednesday engaged the locals in a public forum at the trading centre where calls for all bars to be closed were reiterated.
“We have agreed that Marura will be cleaned and as a parent, we will not settle until this issue is addressed. If not I believe DP Gachagua’s office is open and we will present our issues there,” said one of the locals.
“Our agreement as the community is that all the licences of bars in this area are revoked. We will look for a way to create jobs for our people who might be affected by the move,” said another local.
Sergoit Assistant County Commissioner (ACC) Henry Saro confirmed receipt of the petition.
He said it will be forwarded to relevant county and national government agencies for appropriate action.
Enhance patrol
But as the locals await their petition to the acted upon, the ACC has assured locals that they will intensify patrol in the trading centre to ensure licenced bars operate within the set laws and regulations.
“Locals had complained that the area has too many bars even though they are licenced. They say they don’t want any bar. As of now officers are around, they will be doing patrols to ensure those licenced bars operate as per the laws,” Saro said.
“For the petition, it has been presented to the county that will act upon it,” he added.
