- This is after the owners of the home and some revellers who were present escaped on seeing the team.
- A small pouch with 14 rounds of 7.62x51 ball was also found at the scene
Image: ROBERT OMOLLO
A team of police that was on the illicit brew crackdown seized a rifle hidden in a thicket in a village in Marsabit County on Wednesday.
The team had visited a home in the Manyatta Kuku area to conduct the operation when one of them found an AK47 rifle with 27 bullets.
This is after the owners of the home and some revellers who were present escaped after seeing the team.
The weapon was found hidden in a thicket. A small pouch with 14 rounds of 7.62x51 ball was also found at the scene.
A 51-year-old man was later arrested over the recovery.
The area is among those under partial operation for illegal firearms. Multi-agency teams are conducting operations in the area to fight cattle rustling and other related crimes.
Police say despite the operations, there are tens of illegal weapons in the hands of civilians.
The civilians use the weapons to fight attackers who mostly target their animals.
The government has launched an operation against illicit brew and consumption.
Cabinet on Wednesday endorsed measures the government has taken in the fight against illegal brew and narcotic drugs.
These measures, announced by the Interior Ministry, include a 21-day suspension of all 52 licences and permits issued to manufacturers and distillers of second-generation alcohol, revocation of all bar licences issued by counties against the law and an audit of conflict of interest within the ranks of enforcement agencies.
Other measures are nationwide crackdowns on the sale, transportation, distribution and consumption of illicit brews and narcotic drugs.
The meeting resolved that any public officials who resist these measures in the fight against illicit brews and drugs will be violating Chapter Six of the Constitution and the laws on conflict of interest.
These include officials in the National Police Service, National Administration, Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Bureau of Standards, public health and public prosecution, among others.
The cabinet meeting was informed that since officials started implementing these measures, 2,393 non-compliant premises, 359 pharmacies and chemists and 452 agro-vets have been closed.
At a meeting chaired by President William Ruto at State House Nairobi on Wednesday, the cabinet was informed that 5,835 raids on illicit and narcotic premises have been conducted, 289,390 litres of illicit brew 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.