Publication:

Effect of Licensing Policies on Regulation of Illicit Brews Trade in Meru County Kenya

This research aimed at investigating the influence of licensing regulations, enforcement regulations, adherence to regulatory requirements and sociocultural effect on regulation of illicit brew trade within Meru County. The study employed the availability theory by Eric Single. It utilized a descriptive research design, with a target population of 349 participants drawn from 38 urban centers in Meru West Sub County. To create a representative sample of illicit brew traders, 10% of the target population was used, resulting in 35 alcohol traders. A multistage cluster sampling technique was applied to select five towns from three wards in Meru West Sub County, with a snowballing approach used to choose seven alcohol traders from each of these sampled towns, resulting in a total of 35 participants. Key informants for interviews included a member of the County Licensing Committee, the sub-county Commissioner, two Chiefs, four assistant Chiefs, and two police officers within the study region, selected purposively. Data collection involved the use of questionnaires and interview guides, with both research instruments undergoing validation and reliability testing. A pilot study was conducted in a town excluded from the main study. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented in the form of percentages, frequency tables, bar graphs, and pie charts. Qualitative data underwent content analysis. The research findings indicated that the issuance of licenses has played a significant role in regulating alcohol trade in the county. As a result of these findings, it is recommended that the County government should embark on public education regarding the implementation of successful enforcement strategies for illicit brew regulation. Proper evaluation of licensing policies should be carried out to ensure their effectiveness in illicit brew trade regulation. Additionally, the government should conduct periodic audits of alcohol businesses to ensure compliance with the necessary policies, thereby facilitating successful illicit brew policy regulations.