Police seize items used to manufacture illicit liquor in Kiambu crackdown
By Kenneth Mwenda, August 1, 2025Police officers from the National Police Service (NPS) in Kiambu County have arrested one person in a major operation targeting the illegal manufacture of alcoholic drinks in Kikuyu Sub-County.
The raid took place on Thursday, July 31, 2025, and uncovered a hidden site where counterfeit alcohol was being produced using unsafe and illegal methods. The officers seized a variety of items used in the manufacture and packaging of fake liquor, including ten 250-litre drums containing ethanol, fake Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) stamps, assorted alcohol brand stickers such as Fighter Vodka and King Horse, empty Keroche cartons, and an alcometer.
The person is currently being held at Kiambu Police Station as investigations continue. He is expected to appear in court soon.
Nationwide war on brews
This crackdown is part of a nationwide campaign led by the NPS to eliminate the production and sale of illicit brews. In recent weeks, similar operations have been carried out across the country, including in Nandi, Kisii, and Nairobi counties.
In Nandi South Sub-County, police destroyed over 3,900 litres of kangara, a raw material commonly used to make illegal alcohol, on July 20. In Kisii, a multi-agency team seized more than 12,500 litres of kangara and chang’aa on June 6 during a raid on two homes used as brewing dens.
The police say that these operations are being conducted to protect the public from dangerous and unregulated alcohol. Many of these homemade drinks are linked to serious health issues, including alcohol poisoning, blindness, and even death.
The NPS is calling on members of the public to support the ongoing crackdown by reporting any suspicious activity involving the brewing or sale of illegal alcohol.
“National Police Service reaffirms its commitment to intensive and relentless crackdowns on narcotics, illicit brews, and related criminal activities nationwide” the police said in a statement.