By Lawrence Mutie
Police officers in Uasin Gishu County have issued a stern warning to individuals involved in the brewing and selling of illicit alcohol.
Soy Sub County Police Commander Henry Zuma says they have been conducting a crackdown on illicit brew since early this year, an operation that has seen over 300 brewers arrested.
Over 25,000 litres of illicit alcohol has also been netted.
Zuma who spoke at his office named Soy, Huruma and Kamukunji areas as those largely affected by illicit alcohol in the Sub County.
“Individuals involved in unlawful liquor business should stop because we are going to arrest and take you to court,” the Soy Sub County Police boss said.
“There are many legal business alternatives you can do rather than illicit which affects human health and has endangered the lives of many youths,” he added.
Since the operation started, over 5,000 litres of traditional chang’aa brew and Busaa have been netted across the Sub County.
A further 20,000 litres of Kangara has also been seized by the police.
“We have also managed to dispose of 5,121 litres of Chang’aa and 150 litres of Busaa,” Zuma said.
Nationwide crackdown
The police commander noted that the campaign against prohibited liquor is ongoing countrywide.
It has been involving officials from the National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs), village elders, and county officials through the Alcoholic Control Board among other stakeholders.
The latest data from the Ministry of Interior and National Administration indicate that over 1.7 million litres of illicit brews have been destroyed in the crackdown nationwide.
A majority of the brews netted are Kangara which stands at 1.6 litres.
Busaa and Chang’aa netted so far are 330,824 litres and 112,915 litres respectively.
Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Dr Raymond Omollo has also noted that the crackdown will be intensified.
“We must disrupt the trade to stand any chance of breaking the chain of harm that is flowing from the production to the consumption of these deadly drinks,” PS Omollo said on Friday.
