Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has ordered the immediate closure of all bars in the county in the wake of recent incidents that have seen multiple people lose their lives after consuming toxic liquor within the devolved unit.

Speaking at Kandongu Primary School in Mwea on Saturday, during the farewell ceremony for 17 persons who succumbed to the killer drinks, Waiguru emphasised her persistent efforts to prevent the owner of the bar, allegedly responsible for selling the fatal beverages, from operating.

She however decried that the bar's proprietor, one John Muriithi, allegedly circumvented her efforts by obtaining court orders allowing him to operate without a licence.

"Hawa nimepeleka kortini hawana hata licence. Tukiwanyang'anya licence wanaenda kortini wanaoperate bila licence. This particular person did not have a licence kwa sababu nilikuwa nimekataa kuwapatia licence lakini bado wanaoperate kwa sababu wako na court order," said Waiguru.

"Bar zote zile ambazo ziko Kirinyaga County zimefungwa kutoka leo. The county government of Kirinyaga has withdrawn all the licences ambazo zimepeanwa. Uwe na licence ama hauna, leo bar zote zifungwe."

According to Waiguru only bars that are verified by her government will be eligible for operating licences within Kirinyaga County.  

"Kama kuna mtu yeyote ako na historia ya kupelekwa kortini kwa kukosa kulipa licence ama kuuza pombe haramu hautapata licence Kirinyaga County to operate," she said.

"Hatutakuwa tunakaa chini na watu wetu wanauliwa kwa sababu ya a few greedy people."