Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has vowed that her administration will shut down all unlicensed bars and those operating in residential areas in Kirinyaga County.

Waiguru said the one-year relief his county had extended to cushion businesses against Covid-19 had expired and it was time they honored their part of the bargain and pay taxes.

Speaking during Jamhuri Day event at Kamiigua Youth Polytechnic in Kutus, she said the county had lost Sh100 million from unpaid liquor licenses levies in the last three years.

The Council of Governors Chairperson urged bar owners to settle their unpaid levies to avoid being affected during a crackdown set to be launched next week to enforce the order.

Kirinyaga County Commissioner Moses Ivuto echoed her remarks saying police will work with the county to shut down all bars operating illegally in a looming major crackdown.

Read More

  1. Anne Waiguru secures land rights for 11 informal settlements in Kirinyaga
  2. Anne Waiguru spearheads Kirinyaga water reforms with promising results
  3. Anne Waiguru calls for special police unit within the DCI to address femicide crisis

Governor Waiguru also appealed to all building owners to assure their constructions adhere to relevant standards and regulations, including getting approvals from the county architect.

“We do not want to have cases of buildings collapsing as we have seen in some other counties and as such any building that will be found non-compliant will be demolished,” said Waiguru.

Waiguru noted that Kirinyaga County Government had realized many milestones in use of modern technology and innovation to implement development projects and programs.


She said she had initiated a Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) at Kerugoya Hospital to be replicated in other health facilities to enhance transparency and accountability.

“We have also ensured that provision of services such as dialysis, CT Scans, ophthalmology, laboratory, radiology and TB services employ modern technology for accurate and speedy diagnosis and treatment,” she said.


Waiguru added that the county had automated revenue collection which she expects to grow collection from current 60 to 90 per cent owing to its established digital data base.

She said Kirinyaga will plant six million trees to back President William Ruto’s five billion trees initiative to mitigate climate change, urging residents to plant at least 100 trees each.