Murkomen raises alarm over prevalence of illicit brew in Nyamira
By Kiprono Keileb, September 19, 2025Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said that Nyamira County is among the top ten counties in the country struggling with the prevalence of illicit alcohol consumption.
Speaking during the Jukwaa la Usalama forum in Nyamira County on Friday, September 19, 2025, Murkomen revealed that the region ranks 10th nationally in the use of illicit alcohol, with second-generation brews being the most widely consumed.
“Nyamira County ranks 10th nationally on the prevalence of illicit alcohol, with second-generation alcohol being the most widely consumed,” Murkomen stated.
The Interior CS emphasised that the government has already put in place plans to escalate the crackdown on illicit alcohol in the county as part of a wider national effort targeting the trade.
He explained that security agencies have been directed to strengthen operations against the manufacture, distribution, and sale of the harmful brews that continue to threaten communities across the country.
“The security agencies will intensify the crackdown on the manufacture and sale of these harmful substances as part of the ongoing nationwide Rapid Results Initiative framework,” he said.
The Rapid Results Initiative (RRI), launched in 2025, has seen security teams in various parts of the country conduct simultaneous operations targeting illegal dens and unlicensed alcohol outlets. Murkomen said Nyamira will now be one of the counties where enforcement will be reinforced to curb the rising levels of consumption.
According to Murkomen, the initiative is a clear signal of the government’s determination to protect families from the social and health effects of illicit alcohol, which has long been a challenge in parts of Central, Rift Valley, and now western Kenya.
The announcement comes amid growing concern from local leaders and residents in Nyamira about the effects of illicit brews on young people and households. The Interior CS noted that security teams will not only focus on shutting down illegal supply chains but also dismantling networks behind production.
By placing Nyamira within the top ten counties battling illicit alcohol use, Murkomen said the government intends to ensure that the nationwide framework addresses both urban and rural communities affected by the problem.
His assurance to intensify the crackdown was welcomed at the Jukwaa la Usalama forum, where the issue of illicit alcohol formed part of the wider conversation on security, safety, and social welfare.