A senior police officer was Wednesday stoned to death during a failed crackdown on illicit liquor in Ndori, Rarieda, Siaya county.
Inspector Simon Mwangi Kariuki of Ndori police station was attacked by villagers as he and another officer arrested a suspected brew dealer on Wednesday evening.
Kariuki, who has been in charge of crime branch, and his colleague had gone to arrest a woman in a crackdown on illicit brew at Oyude market.
The officers found the woman with 21 sachets of alcohol and four packets of cigarettes they said were for export.
They arrested her but she raised the alarm and residents who came to check what was happening, stoned the two officers.
They also used other crude weapons to attack the officers.
Kariuki fired five bullets to the air to scare the mob, but they overwhelmed him.
He died on the spot as his colleague escaped for his life but with injuries.
After killing Kariuki, they stole his Ceska pistol.
A team of police officers was later sent to the area to recover the weapon and get those behind the attack on Kariuki.
They demanded the weapon be handed back as the hunt on those behind the attack continues.
Police said the woman is in police custody and is assisting with the probe and hunt for the attackers.
The body was moved to Lwak Mission Hospital mortuary pending postmortem.
The government has announced a number of measures to address the menace of alcoholism and abuse of drugs.
The Cabinet on Wednesday endorsed measures the government has taken in the fight against illegal brews and narcotics.
These measures, announced by the Interior ministry, include a 21-day suspension of all the 52 licences and permits issued to manufacturers and distillers of second generation alcohol.
Others are revocation of all bar licences issued by counties against the law and an audit of conflict of interest within the ranks of enforcement agencies.
Nationwide crackdowns on the sale, transportation, distribution and consumption of illicit brews and narcotics are also part of the measures.
The meeting resolved that any public officials who resist these measures will be violating Chapter Six of the Constitution and the laws on conflict of interest.
They include officials in the National Police Service, the National Administration, the Kenya Revenue Authority, the Kenya Bureau of Standards, public health and public prosecution.
The Cabinet meeting was chaired by President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi.
The meeting was informed that since officials started implementing these measures, 2,393 non-compliant premises, 359 pharmacies and chemists and 452 agrovets have been closed.
The Cabinet was also told that 5,835 raids on illicit and narcotic premises have been conducted, 289,390 litres of illicit brews and 13,198 litres of counterfeit alcohol have been netted.
Additionally, seven vessels for trafficking drugs, 3,603 rolls of bhang and 44 stones have been seized.
Noting the increased cases of addiction to alcohol and drugs, the Cabinet directed the Ministry of Health to prepare a framework for rehabilitation wards in all level 5 hospitals.
The ministry was also directed to closely work with county governments and ensure each county has a rehabilitation centre.
