LETTERS: Regulator silent on rapid rise of estate bars

Kenyans were recently treated to a sad episode on social media where a schoolgirl in full uniform was captured drunk and helpless. She was struggling in the hands of a neighbour and nobody was able to tell where her parents were. The girl confessed that her mother takes alcohol.

The following day Kenyans were treated to another incident in the same home after officials from the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) visited to offer an assistance to the family.

The officials happily talked to the press and did not show any remorse or provide Kenyans with the road map that the organisation is taking to ensure that such cases are minimised.

Kenyans should remember that during the tenure of John Mututho as chairman of Nacada incidences of alcohol abuse went down drastically and the organisation’s presence was being felt in every corner of the country. In fact, Kenyans came up with the term ‘‘masaa ya Mututho’’ to warn their friends to take alcohol within the stipulated time.

Many residential estates were calm after 11 p.m as police patrols were common. Police officers would arrest those who violated the drinking hours.

But since his exit nobody hears about Nacada again. The only time the organisation is mentioned is during the state appointments. Bars, nightclubs, wines and spirit shops are on the rise in residential areas with no opening time limit. Many estates in Nairobi are now home to many nightclubs with some even operating on the ground floors of apartments and flats.

Loud music until morning has now become the norm. Police officerts are usually on the patrol in these areas and some are even found around these clubs every night, maybe to collect their dues.

These apartments are full of school children who need enough sleep and many pe others people involved in the nation building who need enough rest but these is not the case.

Bar and nightclub operators claim that they have been issued with 24-hour permit to operate in the estates from the regulator.

Nacada officials should wake up and bring this chaotic situation to an end.

Kenyan tax payers can not continue to pay these officials while there is nothing tangible happening on the ground.

Nacada should tell Kenyans who is issuing the 24-hour permits to bars and nighclubs in the estates.

What is it that Mututho did that the current Nacada officials are not able to do.

School children are being exposed to alcohol and other immoral habits by the proliferation of these establishments in residential areas.

In many rural areas with limited resources the chiefs and police have reduced alcohol abuse and it makes no sense that in Nairobi the administration that has resources is unable to contain such a situation.

S.M, Embakasi, Nairobi.