Kioni-led Jubilee faction to sue govt for ordering bar closures in illicit brew crackdown » Capital News

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 14 – The Jeremiah Kioni-led Jubille Party faction has vowed to sue the government for forcing bar closures in its war against illicit brew and is seeking damages for breach of contract and compensation.

Kioni said that all bars were licensed and invested heavily before the closure, with some borrowing money for licensing and stocking inventory.

“We are going to sue the government for breach of contract and for compensation regarding the closing of bars,” he stated.

He criticized the government for not consulting county governments and noted the economic repercussions that come with it.

“When you close a bar it goes down with eateries, butcheries, boda-boda riders and mama mbogas, hence corrupting the whole ecosystem,” he said.

Kioni questioned the selective approval of certain alcoholic beverages while others are labeled as “killer drinks.”

“Second generated brews like Muratina and Mnazi have been allowed yet the other drinks are being denoted killer drinks yet they have been approved by KEBS,” he said.

The closure directive followed a government order for public officers owning bars to shut them down or resign.

This  is after  the government issued a directive banning government officials from running bars.

Up to 20 people died in  Kirinyaga after consuming ethanol-laced alcohol  and the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua highlighted the involvement of government officials in the bar business as contributing to alcohol-related problems. 

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