The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.

Standard Group Plc HQ Office,
The Standard Group Center,Mombasa Road.
P.O Box 30080-00100,Nairobi, Kenya.
Telephone number: 0203222111, 0719012111
Email: [email protected]

NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Nakuru County orders prison department to close bar along highway

Rift Valley

By Antony Gitonga | Mar 28, 2025

Secretary-General National Bar Association Boniface Gachoka address the press at Eaglenest in Nakuru on May 18, 2022. {File, Standard}

Nakuru County government and the National Bar Owners Association (BAHLITA) have issued a one week notice to the prison department to close down a bar it is operating in Naivasha town.

They have termed the new establishment as a threat to other bars as liquor sourced from military barracks was sold at cheaper prices thus giving local traders unfair competition.

This came as bar owners in the town vowed that they would stop paying liquor licenses to the county if the facility located along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway was not closed down.

Last month, the prison department opened the bar and has been selling cheaper liquor popularly known as “Afco” at low prices leading to an outcry from bar operators.

Keep Reading business

According to BAHLITA national chairman Boniface Gachoka, tens of jobs were at risk while the county government would lose millions due to the impasse.

He noted that the bar which was run by prison staff was not paying any licenses to the government while the liquor was duty free.

“Since the bar was opened, sales in local bars have gone down as most of the customers are going there as the prices are cheaper and this is unfair,” he said.

While threatening to go to court, he called on the department of prison and the county government to move with haste and close the facility.

While supporting the bar owners, Lakeview MCA Alex Mbugua noted that the county stood to lose over Sh100m in liquor licenses from the town.

Mbugua who heads the Budget Appropriation committee in the county assembly called on the CS for Interior to intervene before more losses were recorded.

“This bar is operating day and night yet it does not have any license from the county government while the liquor sold there is duty free,” he said.

On his part, the chairman Naivasha Bar Owners association Michael Kamau said that they would stop paying liquor licenses from next week.

He said that they had met prison bosses over the impasse but their pleas had been ignored leading to major losses for tens of the bars.

“We are paying the liquor licenses, the beer we sell is taxed but at the prison facility everything is free and the liquor is duty-free,” he said.

A senior prison officer who declined to be named defended the facility noting that it was located within the penal institution and was working within the law.

“For years we have sold duty-free liquor to our staff only that this time round the number of our visitors has increased and this is a blessing,” said the officer.