By:Murithi Kinyua.

Photos By: Anncieta Mukiri.

Meru County Alcoholic and Drinks Control Board will start a Countywide inspection on bar owners who have not complied with the regulations.

Speaking during the last meeting of the sensitization program at kaguru Technical Training institute, licensing and enforcement director, Mr. Gitonga Akubu said that they had a very successful meetings with bar owners, operators and other investors in the industry.

‘" we have trained and educated the stakeholders in this industry on what is required to run the business as far as the board is concern, so from next week we will move across the county checking on those who have not complied with our guidelines so as to protect those have complied.

Board Chief Executive Officer Mr. Mwaki Arimi noted that the sensitization exercise across all the nine sub counties had been very successful and have reached their objectives.

"we have moved in all our sub counties meeting with stakeholders in liquor industry and we are very thankful to them for they turned out in large numbers and they made our work easier," he added.



The CEO said that there work as the board is not only issuing the licenses but it has the mandate to educate and sensitize the investors in liquor industry on matters that affect them.



"We have decided to come on the ground to interact with you so as we can now the issues that you have, as the board we value you so much because you are our customers and without you, we cannot have work to do" Mr. mwaki added.



He pointed out that the board will continue to protect those who are in liquor business from the suppliers who my want to sell second generation and counterfeit alcohol.



On his part, the board chairman prof Kimathi kigatira said that the board will also narrow train market committees because they will be their point men on the ground and will also assist in the licensing exercise

The chair noted that the program is effective as it will help the board members to go on the ground and interact with the customers, he said that through the program they will be able to know the challenges that the bar owners and other stakeholders in the industry face.



Mr. Jimmy Mugira a bar owner at Nkubu thanked the county government and the liquor board for organizing such program saying that the interaction with the board was good.



"We are really happy for this program and I want on behalf of my colleagues to thank the liquor board for remembering us, this training is very important and we have learnt so many things that we dint know previously, we are also happy because they have assured us that we will be protected from the brokers who sell the liquor without the licenses" Mr. jimmy noted.