Governor Sonko's Administration Reveals Plan to Close 9,000 Bars in Nairobi

Several bars and liquor joints in Nairobi are staring at closure if the latest proposal by Governor Mike Sonko's administration receives County Assembly's approval.

In the proposal drafted by the County Liquor and Licensing Board, the City Hall wants the number of bars in the city reduced to 3,000.

The Nairobi News reports that the proposal that will definitely receive opposition from businesspeople will be tabled before the County Assembly within the next two months.

Speaking when he appeared before a County Assembly Budget Committee on Monday, County deputy director of liquor licensing Hesbon Agwena says the policy aims at controlling the sector and cutting back the number of bars opening in the city.

Agwena also says the policy will inform the maximum number of bars that should operate within an area, location and the distance between them.

The official says 7,200 bars were licensed by the county in 2014 but a survey carried out thereafter established the number had risen drastically.

A 2016 report showed there were 12,500 bars in the city, with a majority of them operating without valid permits.

Agwena reveals that the Central Business District (CBD) alone has 2,000 bars but only 736 have licenses.

“We are coming up with a policy, which is currently before the Board, that will inform the number of bars that Nairobi should have, location, the distance between one another and even enforcement. We are looking at scaling down the number to 3,000 bars only in Nairobi. Eldoret, for example, has only 800 bars,” says Agwena.

“We only license those that are in a plot and with a plot number but since most are on top of residential houses they cannot get licensed. If we enforced the law then more than 4,000 bars will be affected as they do not meet our set standards,” he explains.