Kitui Governor Dr. Julius Malombe has officially launched the County and Sub-County Alcoholic Drinks Control Committees in a bold step aimed at strengthening alcohol regulation across the region. The move follows the enactment of the Kitui Alcoholic Drinks Control (Amendment) Act, 2024, which updates the original 2014 legislation.
The new structures, formalized under Gazette Notice No. 4782 of April 2025, are tasked with overseeing the production, sale, and consumption of alcohol in the county, while balancing public health, safety, and revenue interests.
Speaking during the inauguration, Governor Malombe stressed the urgent need to protect minors and communities from the harmful effects of alcohol abuse.
“We must ensure that liquor outlets are not near schools and that children are not exposed to alcohol. Our laws are clear — no alcohol establishment should operate within 300 metres of a learning institution,” he said.
Malombe cited the National Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, 2010 — popularly known as the Mututho Laws — which restricts bar operation hours between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m., in alignment with Kitui’s own regulations.
A recent county survey conducted by the Departments of Decentralized Units and Finance & Revenue Management painted a grim picture: of the 2,208 alcohol outlets across Kitui, only 847 were licensed, leaving 1,361 operating illegally.
The governor expressed optimism that the newly formed committees will help reverse this trend by streamlining licensing, carrying out regular inspections, and enforcing compliance.
“We are committed to rooting out illicit alcohol and safeguarding the health and future of our people — especially the youth,” Malombe affirmed.
Each of Kitui’s eight sub-counties will now have a seven-member Alcoholic Drinks Control Committee, while a nine-member County Committee will oversee the broader implementation of alcohol regulations. The County Committee will be chaired by Mr. Stanley Tito Kilonzi, a seasoned former County Police Commander with the rank of Police Commissioner.
The committees are expected to begin operations immediately, marking a new chapter in Kitui’s war against illicit brews and unregulated alcohol sales.
