Over 40 individuals were arrested on Tuesday afternoon drinking in a pub at Bee Centre area of Umoja Estate.
The revelers had locked themselves at Harry’s Tavern in outright defiance of the safety protocols set by the government to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the country.
The group including men and women were comfortably enjoying drinks when police stormed in and cut short their merrymaking.
Some of them however used the windows as an easier escape route with tens of them managing to disappear.
The suspects are set to be placed under quarantine for 14 days.
This comes less than two weeks since eateries and restaurants were allowed to operate but after fulfilling certain regulations.
In a press briefing on April 27, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe said the government had allowed restaurants to sell alcohol only to customers waiting to be served a meal.
It has however emerged that some Kenyans are taking advantage of the directive to drink alcohol at restaurants claiming they are waiting to be served food.
On Tuesday CS Kagwe pointed out that there are alcohol lovers who have been hopping from one restaurant to another taking “one sausage and two beers” until they have drunk enough.
“People have been going to pubs or to eateries, they order one sausage and two beers then go to another restaurant and have another sausage and two more beers… They then go to another and ask for an orange — in the name of a dessert — then take two more beers… Surely? What is that? What are you doing?” posed CS Kagwe.
He, however, maintained that the government does not regret reopening the restaurants, pointing out that it was a decision made to safeguard the livelihoods of those employed in the food joints.
The CS was however categorical that the government would not hesitate to rescind on the decision to reopen restaurants or revoke licenses of those violating the safety regulations.
