Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen with Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja in Murang'a town on August 19, 2025.Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has sounded a warning against individuals engaged in the illegal trade of illicit brews, counterfeit, and second-generation alcohol.
Speaking in Murang’a town during a Jukwa La Usalama meeting with local administrators on Tuesday, Murkomen vowed to intensify the government’s crackdown on those behind the trade.
On Monday, security agents in Murang’a confiscated ethanol and counterfeit alcohol worth Sh3 million.
During the operation, 290 crates of assorted alcoholic drinks were recovered, and an individual managing the store was arrested.
Murkomen alleged that the suspect is linked to the production and distribution of illicit brews and operates several outlets, some of which he claimed should not be operational.
“This individual has been controlling between 20 and 30 per cent of the distribution market of adulterated ethanol and counterfeit alcohol, some of which are substandard,” the CS said.
He further claimed that while the operation was underway, some security officers attempted to interfere with the raid.
He said the Inspector General of Police will take action against officers found to have been compromised.
Murkomen also alleged that certain individuals rely on court orders to avoid arrest while attempting to influence officials at both county and national levels.
He stressed that the government loses significant amounts of revenue through tax evasion in the illicit alcohol trade.
“For the record, no one is above the law. No one individual can take over a country just because they can compromise people. He’s surviving on irrational court orders and using them as permanent injunctions against county and security officers,” Murkomen said.
He added that violations of the Kenya Revenue Authority Act and the Kenya Bureau of Standards Act were among the offences being investigated, and that multi-agency teams will continue operations to ensure action is taken against those found culpable.
Murkomen underscored the role of graft in undermining national security, describing it as the biggest enabler of the illicit brews trade.
He dismissed as propaganda claims that Central Kenya is the most affected region, saying only Kiambu features among the top 10 counties worst hit by alcoholism and illicit brews.
According to him, Trans Nzoia tops the list, followed by Kakamega, while Kisumu and Nakuru are also among the top 10. Murang’a is ranked 17th.
“This is a sign of good collaboration between security agencies and residents in ridding the county of brews. We must commend Murang’a residents and security agencies for the work they have done. Counties must work harder to move towards being last in the list,” he said.
Murkomen expressed confidence that following Jukwa La Usalama forums in Trans Nzoia, intensive measures have been put in place to ensure the brews are eradicated within months.
