'We won't license alcohol businesses'

Tharaka-Nithi County Governor Samuel Mbae Ragwa speaks to the press on insecurity and hate speech issues during the last day of their First inter-Governmental Consultative forum on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries at Continental Hotel in Mombasa County on Saturday 21st June 2014. [Photo/Kelvin Karani]

If you are planning to set up an alcohol brewing or selling business in Tharaka-Nithi County, then you better change your mind.

No licences will be issues for alcohol businesses, Governor Samuel Ragwa has said.

He said all licences given to liquor manufacturers by the county government have been cancelled after realising they have been selling second generation brews.

Speaking at Gaketha Primary School in Maara Sub-County yesterday, Mr Ragwa said his government has halted licensing of alcohol businesses throughout the county to ensure no sub-standard brews are made.

"We have realised if we continue giving licences to alcohol traders we will just be letting our people to go back to the second generation liquor, which has been prohibited by the national government. For the next one year, no licences will be given until the embargo is lifted," he said.

The county chief said his administration will collaborate with police to destroy all illicit liquor brewed and arrest sellers and manufacturers of the brews to ensure society is free from second-generation drinks.

He said his administration would rehabilitate all willing alcoholics in the available polytechnics to ensure they have reformed and become useful residents, adding that Sh5 million has been set aside to train addicts.