Security agents in Murang’a used drones to locate and destroy brewing dens thriving along the vast River Chania.
They destroyed over 2,200 litres of Kangara and 100 litres of chang’aaa from makeshift breweries along the river.
The vast river that borders Murang’a and Kiambu counties has for years been notorious for the brews that have forced security agents to conduct numerous raids.
Over 10 kilometres away from Thika-Gatanga road and in a very steep terrain, the brewers have set up their operations in deep thickets along the river banks to hide from the long arm of the law.
On Wednesday, security agents led by County Commissioner Patrick Mukuria and County Police Commander David Mathiu led police officers and administrators in a punishing hike to the river bank in search of the brews.
With the continuous rains that have been pounding the area, the small footpaths were slippery, lined with safari ants and would at times disappear, forcing the officers to beat their own paths using machetes.
On the river banks, the smell of the brews was rife but the officers had to use a drone to establish exactly where the brewers were located due to the dense thickets.
On the drone, the brewers could be seen going about their activities, some splitting firewood to be used for brewing before they eventually spotted the drone and attempted to hide their brews.
Some of the brewers displayed their swimming skills and used the river to transports jerry cans of the brews further down the river and away from the reach of the security agents.
By the time the security agents who had by now split reached the various brewing spots, the brewers had managed to flee but could not save the bulk of their brews that were destroyed by security agents.
Their brewing apparatus that included 200-litre metallic tanks and molasses were also destroyed.
The brewers, the county commissioner said, have been taking advantage of the deep thickets along the river to carry out their activities with minimal interference from locals.
“This river has been notorious for a long time. There was a time it had over 50 brewing spots but most have been destroyed and only a few remain. We have done our investigations and we know where they are,” he said.
Mukuria pledged to ensure the crackdown is sustained until the brewers are flushed out of the river.
He said they are partnering with the county government to fight alcoholism by limiting the number of licensed bars, fighting the brews and rehabilitating the addicted youths.
“It’s a challenge that has been there for a long time and may not have a quick fix but we will win eventually,” he said.
He asked bar operators to ensure they sell within the stipulated hours saying many have been operating through-out the day against the law.
He said the brews and counterfeit liqour have got many youths addicted and unable to engage in constructive activities or even keep families with heightened cases of suicides.
Mukuria also lauded police officers and administrators for their persistent effort to fight alcoholism and pledged to continue working with members of the public to ensure they are eradicated.
