Lugari Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner Moses Gicharu has banned local processing and distribution of molasses until the dealers get operation permits from the Sugar Directorate as part of strategy to control illicit brewing that is deeply seated in the region.

The DCC directed police and other relevant security agencies to ensure boda boda riders found transporting molasses and processed outlawed liquor are arrested.

Gicharu said the intelligence reports indicated that continued high consumption of illicit brew is
contributed by chang’aa making using molasses produced locally in the
Sub-County.

“I understand this outlawed brewing is heavily enhanced by presence of so many molasses producing points,” he said

When he spoke to KNA on Thursday at his office in Lumakanda. The DCC said that the licensing of local molasses processers is an important step to control illicit brewing since the product forms an important raw material in chang’aa processing.