Accident leads to seizure of 990 litres of chang’aa in Siaya
By Kenneth Mwenda, January 18, 2026Police in Siaya County have seized 990 litres of chang’aa following a road accident at Uuna along the Ng’iya-Ndori road. The discovery came after a collision involving a Toyota Fielder and a motorbike.
According to a statement posted on Sunday, January 18, 2026, on the Kenya Police Service X account, officers found 392 packs of 2.5-litre chang’aa bottles inside the vehicle.
Additional sacks containing the illicit brew were hidden near the scene.
“Accident involving a Toyota Fielder and a motorcycle led to the discovery of 990 litres of chang’aa at Uuna area along Ng’iya-Ndori Road in Siaya. Officers found 392packs of 2.5 litre packs of chang’aa in the vehicle and others in sacks hidden near scene,” police stated in a statement.
Nationwide crackdown
This latest seizure follows a series of police operations across the country targeting illicit alcohol. On January 16, 2026, officers from Langas Police Station in Uasin Gishu County seized 460 litres of suspected chang’aa during a targeted raid. The alcohol had been stored in a rented room in the Langas area, which was being used as a storage facility for distribution.
“The National Police Service will continue to sustain and intensify similar operations across the country,” the statement read, underlining their commitment to cracking down on illegal brews. Investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend all individuals involved in these operations.
In late December 2025, the police also seized 800 litres of chang’aa in Buruburu, Nairobi, hidden in polythene bags. A suspect was arrested during that operation and remains in custody awaiting arraignment. These consistent seizures demonstrate the scale of illicit alcohol production in urban and rural areas, and the police’s focus on curbing the trade.
Authorities note that chang’aa, commonly brewed in homes or makeshift facilities, poses serious public health risks due to high alcohol content and poor production standards. It has also been linked to road accidents, violence, and other social problems. Police say tackling the illegal trade requires coordinated operations, community cooperation, and strict enforcement of the law.
Siaya County remains a focus area because of its proximity to major highways and rural communities where chang’aa is often transported to urban markets. Officers say they will continue patrolling key roads and conducting checkpoints to intercept illegal shipments.
The latest seizure comes days after President William Ruto declared a tough war on the drug abuse menace in the country.