By Joseph Kamau
Uasin Gishu County has witnessed a significant drop in the number licenced bars and alcohol selling joints.
According to County Secretary Edwin Bett, this year, only 842 licences have been issued to bars.
Bett says the drop is a key step in efforts to minimizing locals exposure to alcohol, especially illicit ones.
“This is a reduction from what we had licensed last year and it is an indication that we want to reduce the number of bars so as to ensure that our people don’t suffer from this menace,” the County Secretary said.
Aside from a decline in licenced bars, the County has also revealed establishment of more rehabilitation centres for citizens addicted to alcohol.
One of the main rehabilitation centres is in Moiben Sub County.
Further, the county has put in place measures to help reformed Illicit brewers to get an alternative source of income.
Meanwhile, the County Secretary announced that they had set up a team that will be taking the lead in the fight against illicit alcohol and drug abuse in the county.
The team was established during a recent multi-stakeholders conference that was held in Eldoret.
The conference was attended by top security officers and high-ranking county officials.
“We have agreed to form a secretariat which will implement an action plan on how the government will collaborate in fighting this menace,” stated the County Secretary.
Uasin Gishu is among counties that have been battling illicit alcohol, most of which find their way into the market from neighboring countries.
