There was a drama at Nyambari village in Lari subcounty on Wednesday when members of the public assisted the police and the administration officers to arrest a chang’aa seller.
The seller identified as Elizabeth Mwikali and popularly known as Mweni hawks the illicit brew on the roads side, bushes and maize plantations.
The drama started when she was noticed by members of the public early in the morning targeting early risers at the Nyambari market.
The residents tipped the area assistant chief, chief and the police who responded quickly and set up a trap to arrest her.
Mweni's attempt to evade arrest led her to seek refuge at a nearby home but she was attacked by dogs that pushed her towards the police who arrested her.
“We do not have cases of people selling chang’aa in this village except this woman and we must stop her,” Millicent Wanjiku, a resident said.
“This woman has been playing hide and seek with the government even as it fights the illicit brew,” George Ng’ang’a, another resident said.
She escorted the police to a newly rented house where 4 litres of chang’aa were recovered and she was taken to Lari police station.
Members of the public asked her new landlord to chase away her family, saying they were troublesome.
Confirming the arrest, deputy county commissioner Samuel Kariuki said the suspect was a habitual seller adding that she has been arrested more than 4 times and taken to court only for her to pay fines imposed and be released.
“We shall ask the police to advise the court accordingly that she is one of those people who don't change,” he said.
The DCC urged the members of the public to keep sharing information, on illicit brew sellers as such brews have no space to operate in the area.
“We are very vigilant. No one will be given any space to operate illicit trade in this area. Let them start doing something else ethical to earn a living. We are working as a multiagency team with including members of the public,” he said.
