Mombasa Court temporarily halts liquor Act

Bar owners on Thursday heaved a sigh of relief after a Mombasa court stopped the county government from implementing the newly introduced Liquor Licensing Act 2014, until the case filed in court opposing the law is heard and determined.

More than 300 bar owners had moved to the Mombasa High Court demanding to have the newly introduced Liquor Licensing Act nullified, claiming it was unconstitutional.

This comes after the Bar Owners Association, led by chair Patrick Kabundu, accused the County Government of Mombasa of coming up with a new Liquor Licensing Act aimed at punishing stakeholders in the sector.

The bar owners, through their two lawyers Gikandi Ngibuini and Danson Mungatana, raised concerns over lack of public participation adding that if the new law is implemented, most of business operators will be forced to shut down.

Judge Anyara Emukule directed the new law be temporarily stopped until September 3rd, 2015, when the court delivers a ruling on the matter.