Suspect arrested, illicit alcohol seized in Nanyuki

Suspect arrested with varieties of illegal brew/NPS

Police in Nanyuki, Laikipia County, have arrested one suspect and seized 54 litres of illicit alcohol in an operation aimed at dismantling the trade in illegal brews.

The intelligence-led operation was carried out Saturday evening by officers from Nanyuki Police Station in Likii Estate, Laikipia East Sub-County.

The officers stormed the estate after receiving a tip-off from members of the public about ongoing illicit brewing activities in the area.

According to police reports, the raid yielded several containers of alcohol suspected to be chang’aa, a traditional brew that is banned in Kenya due to health and safety concerns.

The suspect was taken into custody and is being processed at Nanyuki Police Station. The exhibits were secured as evidence to aid in prosecution.

The suspect arrested in the operation is expected to be arraigned in court.

Police said the operation was part of ongoing nationwide crackdowns against illicit alcohol and drug abuse.

“The National Police Service appreciates the public’s support and encourages continued collaboration in the fight against drug and substance abuse,” read a statement from the NPS.

The arrest comes even as authorities have in recent months stepped up the fight against illegal brews, which have been linked to a surge in deaths, blindness, and other health complications across the country.

Just last month, the government rolled out a fresh crackdown on chang’aa dens in central and northern Kenya, with Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen directing county security committees to intensify raids.

He warned that security officers who fail to act against brewers and suppliers of illicit liquor will be held personally accountable.

Police have assured residents that more swoops will be conducted to rid the region of dangerous brews.

Authorities are now urging the public to continue sharing information on illicit activities in their neighborhoods, noting that collaboration between residents and law enforcement remains key in winning the war against drugs and illicit alcohol.