HOMA BAY, Kenya- Police in Homa Bay and Bondo have destroyed more than 12,000 litres of Kangara and seized cannabis sativa worth Sh32,500 in a coordinated crackdown targeting illicit brews and narcotics across the two counties.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Thursday raid was conducted by a multi-agency team comprising Kendubay Police Station officers and National Government Administration Officers in Maguti, along the shores of Lake Victoria.
During the operation, brewing equipment used to produce the illegal alcohol was also confiscated.“The operation will continue as part of sustained efforts to eliminate illicit brews in the region,” DCI said in a statement.
In a separate incident in Bondo Sub-County, police officers intercepted a motorcycle along the Bondo–Ratiya Road. While the passenger escaped, the rider was arrested. A search of the motorcycle uncovered 65 rolls of bhang hidden in a metallic box and two bags.
Authorities said the narcotics had an estimated street value of Sh32,500. The National Police Service commended the officers involved, stressing its commitment to the fight against drug and substance abuse.
“The National Police Service commends the officers for their vigilance and reiterates its commitment to the fight against drug and substance abuse,” the statement added
Community leaders have welcomed the crackdown, saying illicit brews and drugs remain a major threat to public health and safety in Nyanza. “Our youth are the biggest victims of these substances.
If the police sustain these operations, we will begin to see real change in our society,” said Peter Ochieng, a community elder in Bondo.
The government has intensified its war on illicit liquor and narcotics across the country, with former Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, now the deputy president, previously warning that the trade fuels crime and undermines socio-economic development.
As the raids continue, authorities have urged residents to report suspicious activities and support the fight against illegal brews and drugs.
The seizures in Homa Bay and Bondo highlight the scale of the problem and the high stakes in curbing the menace that has taken root in many rural and peri-urban communities.
