A section of Kijabe village in Lari Constituency. [Kimaku Chege, Standard]
A simmering dispute in Kijabe village, Lari Constituency, has erupted into a confrontation pitting religious influence against government regulation following the sudden revocation of a newly issued liquor licence.
For decades, the enclave—long overseen by the Africa Inland Church (AIC), which holds historical land titles in the area—has maintained a strict ban on alcohol outlets.
But following a recent decision by Kiambu County authorities and local administration officers to approve a legal, regulated pub, church intervention led officials to shut down the establishment just seven days after its doors opened.
The closure has sparked a heated debate among residents, who argue that the strict ban has failed to stop alcohol consumption and may instead be pushing people towards a far more dangerous alternative—illicit brew.
Opponents of the alcohol ban say keeping bars out of Kijabe has not stopped residents from drinking.
Instead, they argue, it has created a market for unregulated alcohol, with some residents turning to illicit brews whose safety and contents cannot be verified.
“The church thinks keeping bars out means keeping liquor out, but all it does is drive young people into the bushes to drink deadly, poisonous brews,” said one resident who spoke on condition of anonymity.