Three KRA officers assaulted, injured in Sh4m illicit liquor raid

Three Kenya Revenue Authority officers are nursing injuries after allegedly being assaulted by a businessman in Kisumu for impounding illicit liquor worth Sh4 million.

They were alleged to have been attacked by a businessman and goons in the presence of police officers from the Mamboleo police post on Saturday.

However when contacted, Kisumu East subcounty police commander James Musyimi said he was not aware of the incident.

Musyimi said he was still busy with the matters of elections. “I will look into the matter once we are done with the elections,” he said.

The KRA officials sustained injuries and were treated and discharged at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital.

The officers who requested anonymity were acting on a tip off over the production and ferrying of illicit alcohol in Mamboleo area in Kisumu East subcounty.

One of the officers said the businessman who owns Mamboleo distiller plant, was producing alcohol illegally despite being closed last year.

“The license was suspended in April 2021. The trader was actually producing the alcohol illegally,” the officer said.

They impounded a lorry and a pick-up ferrying 800 and 210 cartons of Shakers Vodka, illicit brew respectively.

The alcohol which were fixed with KRA excise stamps are valued at Sh4 million inclusive of tax evasion.

The officers claimed police officers sided with the businessman.

“We were shocked that we could be assaulted and obstructed in the line of our duty without any action by the present officers,” one of the KRA officers said. They were forced to release the impounded alcohol.

-Edited by SKanyara