Police destroy 3,010 litres of illicit brew in Nandi crackdown/SCREENGRAB/NPS
Police have intensified a crackdown on illicit alcohol in Nandi County, destroying thousands of litres of illegal brew in a coordinated operation.
Officers from Nandi South Sub-County raided Kapkerer Location on Wednesday, targeting Kipsigak, Baibai, Chepsis, and Kipkurui villages.
During the operation, police destroyed 3,010 litres of kangara.
Brewing equipment was also dismantled after being found hidden in bushes, along rivers and inside forested areas.
In a separate recovery, officers seized 60 litres of chang’aa from a residential property.
The illicit liquor was secured as evidence.
Suspected brewers escaped after spotting the police officers.
Police said “investigations are proceeding at full speed to apprehend the suspects.”
The National Police Service said it “remains steadfast in its resolve to combat illicit alcohol and to safeguard public health and safety.”
Members of the public have been urged to cooperate with police by sharing information on drug and alcohol-related activities through police stations, toll-free numbers 999, 911 or 112, or anonymously via #FichuaKwaDCI.
On January 9, a police operation in Busia County led to the destruction of 1,725 litres of illicitly brewed alcohol and the arrest of one suspect, according to the National Police Service (NPS).
The operation, led by Busia County Police Commander Abdille Ahmed, was carried out in the Nasewa area by officers from Busia Police Station as part of ongoing efforts to curb the production and distribution of illegal alcohol.
Police said one suspect was arrested after officers recovered about 80 litres of a substance believed to be Chang’aa at a homestead.
The suspect was escorted to Busia Police Station and is expected to be presented in court, police added.
In a statement, the NPS said an additional 1,725 litres of Kangara, a locally brewed alcoholic drink, were recovered and destroyed during the operation.
Video footage shared by the police showed officers disposing of containers filled with the liquid outside what appeared to be a residential area.
“The National Police Service remains steadfast in its commitment to serving and protecting the public,” the statement said.
The Busia operation followed a separate multi-agency crackdown in Western Kenya led by Western Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamed, AIG.
That operation targeted areas in Kakamega and Vihiga counties, including Shikumu and Kilingili locations.
According to police, officers destroyed about 50,000 litres of Kangara, recovered several hundred litres of Chang’aa, dismantled brewing equipment, and arrested multiple suspects.
The suspects are being held as investigations continue, police said.
The NPS has urged members of the public to report suspected illegal brewing activities, noting that community cooperation is important in addressing the problem of illicit alcohol.