NAIROBI, Kenya – Police have intensified their crackdown on illicit brews with a night raid in the Mwengenye area of Kayole, Nairobi, where officers seized and destroyed over 100 litres of kangara — a locally brewed illegal alcohol.
Led by a multi-agency team from the Obama Police Station, the Thursday night operation targeted brewing hideouts near the Dandora Bridge along the Nairobi River.
The officers also confiscated several 20-litre jerricans suspected to have been used in the manufacture of the outlawed brew.
Authorities say investigations are underway to identify and arrest the individuals behind the illegal alcohol business.
The operation is part of a broader national campaign against illicit alcohol and narcotics, launched in response to growing public concern over the health and security risks posed by unregulated substances.
ILLICIT BREW DESTROYED DURING MULTI-AGENCY OPERATION IN KAYOLEOn 17 July 2025, officers from Obama Police Station in Kayole Sub-County, Nairobi County, led a multi-agency operation targeting illicit brew dens in Mwengenye area near Dandora Bridge along the Nairobi River.
In a related series of operations in Kilifi County, police arrested two suspects on Tuesday in connection with drug trafficking. One of them is also facing a charge of robbery with violence.
Another operation in the Kibaoni area saw one suspect arrested after a tip-off from members of the public.
On Wednesday, officers pursued a gang of three suspected criminals in the region and managed to arrest one suspect. The hunt for the remaining two is ongoing.
The National Police Service (NPS), in a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating the sale and distribution of illicit alcohol and drugs across the country.
“We thank members of the public for their continued support and urge more Kenyans to report suspicious activities. Together, we can safeguard our communities from these social vices,” the statement read.
The crackdown comes amid heightened efforts by law enforcement to curb the production and sale of dangerous, unregulated brews that have been blamed for health complications, loss of lives, and increased criminal activity in affected areas.
