NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 20 — Police officers in Migori’s Kuria West sub-county have apprehended a 52-year-old brewer as part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal alcohol operations nationwide.
Police arrested the suspect, identified as Tabuya Museti, on Tuesday after finding him in possession of 100 liters of Changa’aa, a home-brewed spirit, and 400 liters of Kangara, an ingredient used in making Changa’aa.
Museti allegedly resisted arrest and threatened the officers with a crude weapon when they attempted to enter one of his storage facilities, where the illicit brew was kept.
“When the suspect spotted the officers within his home compound, he got into his house and came out while armed with a panga and started threatening to kill any officer who will dare to arrest him,” read a police report obtained by Capital News.
The officers managed to apprehend Museti using necessary force and subsequently escorted him to the Isebania Police Station pending arraignment on Wednesday.
The arrest came days after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki announced a nationwide crackdown on illicit alcohol following 23 deaths in Kirinyaga linked to the consumption of unlicensed alcohol.
Elevated crackdown
Speaking on Friday, Kindiki declared that the crackdown will commence immediately to address the significant challenge posed by illicit brews across the country.
He said the government had elevated the crackdown on illicit alcohol to the level of similar campaigns on terrorism, banditry, and other complex criminal activities.
“We will not take this as a small matter,” he said following a strategy meeting with the newly deployed members of Kirinyaga County and Mwea West Sub-County Security and Intelligence Committees.
The Interior CS pledged a thorough inquiry into the events in Kirinyaga.
He warned of severe consequences for any public official found responsible.
To stem the proliferation of establishments selling illicit liquor, Kindiki directed security chiefs nationwide to collaborate with county governments to review bar licenses.
