Authorities have seized over 12,000 litres of illicit brews in a major operation in Kisii County, signaling an intensified crackdown on the illegal alcohol trade. The operation, which took place in Bomaina Sub-Location in Kisii South Sub-County, was part of a coordinated effort by law enforcement and administrative officers to curb the production and distribution of unregulated alcoholic beverages in the region.
During the Friday operation, officers confiscated approximately 12,550 litres of Kangara, a locally brewed alcoholic concoction, along with 70 litres of Chang’aa, a potent traditional brew known for its high alcohol content. The illicit brews were discovered hidden in two residential homesteads located in the Riotachi and Motonto areas. Containers, some of them buried underground and concealed by dense vegetation, were uncovered and inspected by officers clad in camouflage gear.
The operation was spearheaded by a multi-agency team made up of law enforcement personnel and local administration officers. The team targeted specific homesteads suspected of being production and storage sites for the illicit brews. Despite the successful seizure, two suspects connected to the illegal activities managed to evade arrest. Authorities have launched a manhunt for the individuals and are urging the public to report any information related to illegal brewing or suspicious activities in their communities.
Efforts are underway to ensure that the individuals behind the brewing and distribution network are apprehended. Law enforcement officials have reiterated their commitment to rooting out the manufacture and sale of illicit alcohol, which they warn poses significant health risks to consumers and undermines social stability in the affected communities.
This operation is part of a broader campaign targeting the proliferation of illegal alcoholic beverages in different parts of the country. Just days earlier, a separate raid in Nairobi’s Kibera slum led to the seizure of 2,350 litres of illicit liquor. Authorities in that operation similarly destroyed the seized brews and associated equipment.
In another recent operation on June 5, law enforcement officers working with local administrative officials in Thunguma Location near River Chania discovered and destroyed 360 litres of Kangara. The brews were concealed in thick vegetation along the riverbanks. Although no arrests were made at that scene, the brew was poured out and the containers were destroyed to prevent reuse.
These recent crackdowns come amid growing concerns over the widespread availability and consumption of homemade alcoholic beverages, which are often produced in unsanitary conditions and without any regulatory oversight. Health experts have warned that these brews can contain toxic substances that pose a serious risk to human health, including poisoning, blindness, and even death.
Local authorities are encouraging community members to remain vigilant and to support ongoing enforcement efforts by providing information that could lead to the dismantling of illicit brewing operations. Law enforcement agencies have emphasized that cooperation from the public is vital in the fight against illegal alcohol, which continues to plague many rural and urban communities.
With enforcement efforts gaining momentum, authorities have vowed to sustain the pressure on individuals and networks involved in the illegal alcohol trade. They have assured residents that further operations will be conducted in various hotspots as part of a comprehensive national campaign to safeguard public health and uphold the rule of law.
