The County assembly of Trans Nzoia has issued a 60-days grace period for bar owners and operators to continue operations after their businesses were shut due to lack of licenses. Business people had decried the move by the government to close their premises, and faulted the Trans Nzoia County government for failing to give them licenses although they had already paid for them.
They petitioned the County assembly to intervene and salvage the situation. On Tuesday, the County assembly speaker Joshua Werunga confirmed he had received the petition from bar operators and other liquor stores in the County. He said that the assembly enacted the Trans Nzoia County Alcoholic Drinks Control Act 2018 that covers licensing and regulation of the liquor sector, a task which is supposed to be done by the County administration.
He said that the Coronavirus pandemic has caused enormous challenges and economic hardships, and it’s unwise for bars to remain closed since many depend on the business to steer their livelihoods. He therefore requested government enforcement agencies through the County Commissioner and the County Governor to suspend the closure for at least 60 days as the relevant County government entities operationalize the law.
However, he urged bar operators to carry out their businesses within the confines of the law by respecting the set out Covid-19 infection prevention regulations put in lace by the Ministry of Health. The speaker was accompanied by traders and minority leader in the County assembly Emmanuel Waswa.