Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has firmly asserted his commitment to the ongoing crackdown on wines and spirits outlets situated in matatu termini, despite calls from a human rights defender urging him to rescind the directive. Sakaja, addressing the demands, emphasized that the directive will not be lifted, and even licensed establishments must adhere to conditions, necessitating inspections.

The governor made it clear that the crackdown will persist until all wines and spirits outlets within matatu termini are closed. Sakaja cited concerns about the rising number of road fatalities attributed to alcohol abuse and reiterated the objective of avoiding further loss of lives due to outlets that have transformed into bars in inappropriate locations.

The directive, issued on February 23, 2023, followed a meeting at Charter Hall where Sakaja received a report from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) highlighting fatalities on Nairobi roads. Within seven days of the directive, businesses falling under this category were instructed to close.

In a subsequent memo dated February, County Secretary Patrick Analo Akivaga notified all chief officers and directors under the Office of the County Secretary about the commencement of the order’s implementation.

Governor Sakaja specifically tasked Tony Kimani, the Chief Officer for Security, with ensuring the removal of all wines and spirits establishments around bus termini within the stipulated seven days.

However, a human rights defender is urging the governor to modify the directive by removing the word “all.” In a demand letter to Sakaja and the head of County Public Service Patrick Akivaga, the human rights defender seeks the immediate lifting of the directive’s “all” encompassing businesses within 48 hours. Failure to comply within the given period may result in legal action at the High Court’s Constitutional and Human Rights Division against the county boss.