Sacks of potent chang'aa/HANDOUTThe National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has confiscated 4,000 litres of ready-to-drink chang’aa in a major pre-dawn crackdown on Nairobi’s illicit alcohol trade.
Acting on weeks of intelligence, the authority led a multi-agency team into the Mukuru kwa Reuben and Mukuru kwa Njenga settlements at 3:00 am on Friday, 26 September 2025, striking at the heart of a suspected underground distillery and distribution network.
The operation, conducted in partnership with Nairobi Area Police, focused on a cluster of rental structures long believed to host a notorious illicit brew hub.
Although the main brewing site appeared less active, suggesting operators may have been tipped off about heightened surveillance, a systematic sweep of neighbouring rooms exposed the true scale of the operation.
Hidden behind a nondescript door, officers discovered 14 large sacks of potent chang’aa meticulously packaged in banned nylon materials.
The packaging underscored both the sophistication of the syndicate and its disregard for public health and environmental laws.
Authorities said the 4,000-litre haul, if released to the market, would have posed a serious threat to the community’s well-being. The alcohol was secured as evidence on the spot.
No suspects were apprehended during the raid, but investigators said the seizure had disrupted a major supply chain and yielded critical leads on the ringleaders.
The exhibits have been logged at Jogoo Road Police Station and will be forwarded to the Government Chemist for analysis to support future prosecutions.
NACADA Chief Executive Officer Anthony Omerikwa attributed the success to the government’s 100-day Rapid Results Initiative on alcohol and drug abuse directed by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.
"This significant seizure in Mukuru sends an unequivocal message to the merchants of death and destruction: your days are numbered. We are systematically dismantling your operations, supply chain by supply chain."
Omerikwa emphasised that the RRI is focused on sustainable results beyond mere seizures.
"The 100-day RRI is not just about raids; it's about reclaiming our communities, protecting our youth, and restoring dignity to families broken by alcohol and drug abuse. The collaboration between NACADA, the National Police Service, and other agencies has been exceptional, and this synergy will be sustained until every last network is dismantled," he affirmed.
The authority has vowed to maintain this heightened tempo of operations across the country, ensuring that the momentum gained in the first 37 days leads to a lasting impact on public health and safety.
