Over 30 people arrested in illicit brew crackdown in Homa Bay

Homa Bay security officers on Tuesday conducted a crackdown that led to the arrest of at least 30 people in connection with brewing of illicit alcohol. 

More than 12,000 liters of illicit brews were seized during the security operation led by Homa Bay County Commissioner Moses Lilan and County Police Commander Samson Kinne. led the crackdown.

They included 11,500 litters of kangara and 1,000 liters of chang'aa.

Items used in preparation and transportation of the illicit brew were also confiscated.

The suspects were booked at Homa Bay Police Station for processing awaiting arraignment in Court on Tuesday afternoon to plead to the charges.

They were arrested in a local brew at Nyambare village, Kotieno Sublocation in Rangwe constituency.

Lilan said they undertook the crackdown at a bushy section of Rangwe river bank after being tipped off by the public.

"The suspects operate in a chain of system where they even have people who supply them with raw materials like jaggaries and firewood. They work secretively and are difficult to know,” Lilan said.

Speaking after the exercise, Lilan said some of the suspects attempted to escape when they arrived at the scene but police overpowered and arrested them.

They also nabbed 100 kg of jaggeries used for manufacturing the brew and two motorcycles used for transporting.

The administrator warned residents against the production and consumption of illicit brews in Homa Bay.

“Anybody involved in the production of illicit brews in this county must now look for an alternative economic activity. We have started a fierce crackdown that will not spare them,” Lilan said.

He said anybody found committing the crime will have to face the consequences.

Lilan said they are working closely with officers from NACADA to intensify the crackdown to eradicate illicit brews at sub-location levels. 

The administrator said they have sent their informants on the ground for the success of the operation.

“Today’s crackdown is just a start of many more operations we’ll be undertaking in the county until we reach a point where Homa Bay is free from illicit brews,” he said.

He added that illicit brew is a recipe for crimes and social vices.

“We have established that production and consumption of illicit brews have a correlation to other crimes and teen pregnancies. Thus, we must join hands to end illicit brews in all our sub-locations."