By Obegi Malack
obegimalack@gmail.com
Kajiado County governor Joseph ole Lenku has slashed bars and restaurants license fee by half after a petition by Kajiado North sub county bar and restaurant owners.
The governor directed that a 50 per cent waiver be affected of all the licenses payable to the Kajiado County Alcoholic Drinks Control by bars and restaurants for 2021/22 Financial Year.
All the application fees payable to the County Alcoholic Drinks Control Board will be suspended for the 2021/22 Financial Year. Licenses falling under the same department will be harmonized and merged for ease of payment and administration.
Lenku also direct that Kajiado County Alcoholic Drinks Control Act (2014)be amended to provide for board membership to include representatives of bar and restaurant owners from each of the Sub Counties.
He also directed bars and restaurants operate for two hours earlier within their respective working hours.
The governor said the move is meant to assist the business community in the food and entertainment industry in their recovery process from the Covid- 19 pandemic.
Vet Ngong Bar Owners CBO had petitioned the county government to consider 100% waiver on the liquor license fee for the year 221/2022.
In the petition dated 2nd July 2021 they also requested the county to consider reduction of the license fee by 50% or such other favorable percentage in the year 2022-2023.
They also appealed to have at least five persons to represent them in the Liquor Licensing Board in the sub county who will be articulating their issues.
The business owners had also petitioned the county to scrap off all hidden charges while applying for the liquor licenses such as copy right and tourism license. The health and single permit licenses should be merged for ease of operations
The operators also appealed to the county to give clear direction on working hours to avoid confrontation with law enforcers.