The fight against drug and alcohol abuse in the urban centres is facing a new hurdle after it emerged that people living in the posh estates are converting their houses into bars where revellers can indulge even beyond the recommended time without the ‘intrusion’ of police.

National Campaign Against Drug Abuse (Nacada) while calling on the National Government Administration Officers (Ngao) to be on the lookout for this trend, said that neighbours in such estates gather in those dens to consume alcohol and narcotics in what appears to be a well-coordinated scheme to evade the law enforcers’ dragnet.   

Nacada expressed concern that if uncontrolled, the illegal trade would expose school-going youngsters to alcohol and substance abuse at a time when they are on a long holiday.

The agency said that multiagency operations will be coordinated countrywide to ensure that illicit brews, narcotics, and other drug substances are not trafficked during the festive season when there is heightened movement of people.

Last week, Nacada raided a notorious bar in Kayole North Ward, Njiru Sub-County, where they impounded over 2000 bottles of illicit brew valued at more than Sh500, 000.

Over 10 people were arrested during the three-hour operation including bar attendants and revellers.

Confiscated chemicals

Acting on a tip-off from the public, the government agencies that conducted the operation confiscated chemicals and machines believed to be used to make the brew.

The brews were in glass bottles of 250, 500, and 750 ml then packed in cartons. Counterfeit energy drinks were also netted.

“We have netted more than 200 cartons and 2000 bottles of alleged illicit brews. Relevant government authorities will pick samples for further examinations while the rest will be produced in court as exhibits once the suspects are prosecuted,” Njiru Sub-county police commander Lucas Ongoyo said. “Most of these second-generation alcoholic drinks are poisonous to those who consume”

Most of the bottles had stickers with brand names of known alcoholic drinks from legitimate brewers.

Only a few bottles, which had been placed on the counters of the liquor stores, contained genuine alcohol products, officials in the operation saying this was meant to hoodwink enforcement officers during inspection while other counterfeit brews had cheeky names like Utamu wa Yesu.

Four betting machines were also impounded during the Kayole raid which involved breaking doors to access the inner rooms used to store the liquor.

Dingy pub

The owner of the business only identified as Kagotho Mwangi by locals runs multiple stores of wine and spirits and one pub operating as a bar and lodging all under the name of Spider Annex.

To conceal it from the attention of law enforcers, the dingy pub located in the Kona Baya area is surrounded by green grocery kiosks with two narrow doors leading into the bar, one serving as the main entrance and the other as a back exit.

A national government official anonymously told People Daily how the businessman operates with impunity and enjoys police protection and powerful politicians within Nairobi county.

The operation also revealed that the liquor shops operated without licenses and a business permit from the Nairobi County Government expired in 2021 and had not been renewed since then.

The bottles had fake seals bearing counterfeit Kenya Revenue Authority stamps.

He also said that he has been supplying the poisonous brew to other sellers in the area as well as in other parts of the Nairobi and Kiambu counties.

Head of Enforcement at Nacada Nicholas Kosgei said that those found drinking alcohol will be charged for consuming alcohol during odd hours.

Kosgei added: “Acting from information provided to us by the public, we combined our teams from KRA, Kenya Bureau of Statistics (Kebs), National Government Administration Officers (Ngao), and National Police Service to raid alcoholic outlets within this area as part of our ongoing nationwide crackdown on making and selling illicit brews so that we can eradicate alcohol abuse.”

Local brewers have blamed the Excise Tax imposed on beverage spirits for the increase of the consumption of illicit brews in the country urging the government to consider reviewing the tax in a bid to combat the trade and consumption of illicit alcohol.

Last month, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who is spearheading the war on toxic brews threatened to send home about 100 chiefs across the country by Christmas for laxity in the fight against illicit brew consumption.