THARAKA NITHI COUNTY, Kenya — A multi-agency security team in Tharaka South Sub-County has intensified the national crackdown on illicit alcohol and narcotics, arresting four suspects and confiscating over 200 litres of illicit brew along with 31 rolls of bhang in a Friday operation at Kibunga Market, July 11.
The sting operation, led by a collaboration of law enforcement officers from the National Police Service (NPS), local administration units, and anti-narcotics teams, was part of an ongoing campaign targeting the rampant manufacture, distribution, and consumption of illegal substances in the region.
According to police reports, the suspects were caught red-handed in possession of the illegal alcohol and narcotic rolls during the well-coordinated raid. They were promptly placed in custody at a local police station, pending formal charges and arraignment in court.
NPS Pledges Continued Action Against Illicit Brews
In a statement issued following the arrests, the National Police Service reaffirmed its commitment to tackling the illicit alcohol menace that continues to plague communities across the country.
“The National Police Service (NPS) assures the public that operations to eradicate the manufacture, distribution, and consumption of illicit alcohol and other prohibited substances will continue countrywide,” the statement read.
“We urge the public to support the ongoing crackdown by reporting suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.”
This renewed push follows a directive issued by Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who ordered National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) and NPS to carry out targeted operations across known illicit brew hotspots.
Murkomen cited a disturbing rise in alcohol-related deaths, health complications, and widespread social disruption, prompting the government to intensify efforts in curbing the illegal liquor economy.
Counterfeit KEBS and KRA Stamps Raise Alarm
In addition to illicit brewing, Murkomen also raised alarm over the use of fake Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) stamps on counterfeit alcoholic products. According to the CS, these criminal practices point to the involvement of organized cartels using deceptive tactics to flood the market with harmful drinks.
“The government will dismantle these networks,” Murkomen emphasized during a recent press briefing. “We cannot allow counterfeiters to gamble with the health and lives of Kenyans.”
Public Health at the Forefront
The impact of illicit alcohol extends far beyond individual consumption. Recent incidents in several counties—including Embu, Kirinyaga, Kisii, and parts of Nakuru—have underscored the deadly consequences of unregulated alcohol. Dozens have lost their lives, and others have suffered blindness, organ failure, or permanent disability.
In Tharaka Nithi, residents have welcomed the government’s latest actions, urging the crackdown to continue until all illicit brewers are rooted out.
“We’ve lost too many young people to chang’aa and second-generation brews,” said a local elder in Kibunga. “We need long-term action, not just raids.”
Broader National Campaign
The arrests in Kibunga are part of a wider multi-county initiative launched by the Interior Ministry to eliminate the underground alcohol trade. Thousands of litres of illegal liquor have been destroyed in recent weeks, with hundreds of suspects detained.
In Mathare, for instance, police this week recovered 72 stolen mobile phones at a residence-cum-repair shop, while in Lamu, a boda boda rider was sentenced to life imprisonment for defiling a minor—part of a broader trend by the state to restore law and order through decisive legal action.
