Bar Owners Threaten to Sue Over Harassment

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Brian Otieno

28 June 2011

Pub owners have threatened to take legal action against the police for constant harassment of their patrons. Through the Pubs, Entertainment and Restaurants Association of Kenya, the owners said police harassment has increased over the last three weeks especially in Mombasa and Nairobi.

Perak boss Sam Ikwaye accused the police of citing the new Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, popularly known as the ‘Mututho Laws’, to extort money from patrons or arrest them. “We are receiving increased reported cases where police allegedly invade legitimate businesses asking for the new licenses that are yet to be issued. “If the Police commissioner fails to address this issue that we have constantly highlighted then we will have no other choice than to go to court,” said Ikwaye.

The Perak boss said police misplace their efforts and target legitimate businesses leaving out illegitimate ones where killer illicit brews continue to claim lives of youths. “This has led to the legitimate businesses, that pay the necessary taxes through which the same policemen are paid, making losses,” he said.

He said contrary to belief, there is nothing like ‘drinking outside the legitimate hours’ since the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse Authority is yet to issue the new licenses that are currently being processed. “Nacada has allowed us to operate under the old licenses until the new ones are issued. But the police either do not want to understand this or they just like doing what they know best; extort,” said Ikwaye.

He said the Mututho laws were meant to shape up the youth against overdrinking but the police have turned the laws into avenues through which they can enrich themselves. He said alcoholism is a social problem that requires social approaches when dealing with it.

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