NAIROBI, Kenya- A series of coordinated security operations across several counties has delivered significant gains in Kenya’s ongoing crackdown on illicit brews and narcotics, with police reporting multiple arrests and the seizure of large quantities of illegal substances.
The multi-agency operations, involving police officers and National Government Administration Officers, targeted known hotspots in Meru, Bungoma, Nyamira, Kiambu, Murang’a, and Nairobi, in what authorities describe as a sustained effort to dismantle supply chains and protect communities from substance abuse.
In Meru County, officers raided the Kaguma area in Gaitu East Location, Imenti Central Sub-County, where they seized approximately 1,700 litres of illicit brew, locally known as mugacha. One suspect was arrested and taken to Gaitu Police Station, where authorities confirmed the individual is awaiting arraignment.
Bungoma County recorded some of the most substantial recoveries. In Chemogee Sub-location, police arrested one suspect and confiscated 20 litres of busaa.
In a separate operation in Mayanya Vitunguu, a larger crackdown led to the arrest of seven suspects and the recovery of 6,430 litres of kangara and 62 litres of chang’aa. Officials said the operation was conducted jointly with local administrators to enhance enforcement.
In Nyamira County, a multi-agency team raided Miti Mbili Village, arresting two suspects. Officers recovered 20 litres of a liquid suspected to be chang’aa stored in a jerrican, which has since been secured as an exhibit pending further analysis.
Urban and peri-urban areas also featured prominently in the operations. In Kiambu County, police on mobile patrol arrested a suspect found with 24 rolls of cannabis, alongside rolling papers, scissors, and packaging materials believed to indicate distribution activity.
In neighbouring Murang’a County, officers attached to Kabati Police Station recovered 35 rolls of cannabis sativa.
The suspect was arrested and formally charged, with authorities confirming that the exhibits have been forwarded to the Government Chemist for analysis in line with evidentiary requirements.
Within the Nairobi area, police arrested another suspect found in possession of 80 rolls of bhang, highlighting what officials say is the persistent spread of narcotics distribution networks in urban centres.
Security agencies say the operations reflect both the scale of illicit alcohol production and drug trafficking, and the government’s intensified resolve to curb the vice.
Illicit brews such as chang’aa and kangara have long been linked to public health risks, including fatalities, while narcotics continue to pose social and economic challenges, particularly among youth.
The crackdown aligns with existing legal frameworks, including the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, which criminalise the production, possession, and distribution of illegal substances.
Authorities have called for sustained public cooperation, noting that community intelligence remains critical in identifying illegal operations.
“These successes are a result of joint efforts between security agencies and wananchi. Continued collaboration is key to eliminating these networks,” a senior police officer involved in the operations said.
The government has pledged to maintain pressure through continuous operations, with a focus on disrupting supply chains, prosecuting offenders, and safeguarding communities from the dangers of illicit substances.
