Police in Narok town have today arrested 20 people for dealing in illicit brew and destroyed over 50 litres of the brew.
Narok Central Sub County Police Commander John Momanyi said samples of the illicit brew have been collected and taken to the government chemist for analysis to determine its content.
“The consumers allege the substance they are consuming is traditional medicine yet all the consumers look sickly and cannot stand upright. This is the reason we have taken samples of the brew to government chemists to ascertain the kind of drink they are consuming,” said the police boss.
He pointed out that the area dubbed ‘Kambi Shetani’ is notorious for illicit brewing, where many young people spend their day taking the cheap drinks.
Momanyi said those arrested would be prosecuted in a court of law and act as an example to many others with a similar intention of breaking the law.
He promised not to leave any stone unturned until all culprits of illicit brewing in the area are brought to book, adding that many young people were unproductive in the society because they spent most of their productive hours in drinking dens.
He called on the members of the public to cooperate with the police by giving information on illicit brewing in their localities to eradicate the menace in the area.
“Only the licensed premises will be allowed to sell alcoholic drinks. I ask the members of the public to be on guard and report any person selling illicit brew,” he said.
“Many families have lost their loved ones and others remain in poverty because of consuming illicit brews that bring health complications. That is why we are encouraging people to only consume the drinks that have been legally allowed by the government,” said the police boss.
The National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has held many campaigns in the area to sensitize the people on alcohol and drug abuse.
By Ann Salaton
