Security agencies and Uasin Gishu County officials have uncovered a large cache of suspected illicit alcohol valued at approximately Sh5 million during a joint operation at a residential house in Eldoret city.
The operation was launched following a tip-off from members of the public who reported suspicious activities at the premises at the city’s Pioneer Estate.
According to Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwathi, officers found that the residential house was being used as an illegal warehouse for alcoholic drinks.
“We discovered that the house was operating as a store, holding alcohol in very large quantities. In total, we recovered 1,406 boxes of alcohol, which is illegal to store in a residential area,” Mwathi said.
He added that police also recovered numerous empty boxes and sealing tapes, an indication that repackaging of alcohol was taking place at the premises, an activity prohibited by law.
Mwathi noted that alcohol should only be stored or sold in premises licensed by the county government, stressing that residential areas are especially protected zones due to the presence of families particularly children.
He said that due to the scale of the seizure and concerns over legality, the alcohol has been treated as illicit brew pending verification by relevant government agencies.
The County Police Commander highlighted that officers from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) are verifying the authenticity of excise stamps, while the Anti-Counterfeit Authority is checking brand authorization.
The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), he said was also conducting quality tests to determine whether the products meet required safety standards.
Mwathi also revealed that the operation followed the earlier arrest of a suspect in Eldoret town who was found transporting alcohol in a vehicle. The arrest led investigators to the Pioneer Estate house.
He revealed that one suspect is currently in custody, with investigations ongoing to establish whether more individuals are involved.
Mwathi assured residents that security agencies have intensified operations against illicit alcohol since the beginning of the year and crackdowns would continue.
The Uasin Gishu County Alcoholic Drinks Control Board (ADCB) Director, Koiya Arap Maiyo, confirmed that the premises was not licensed to store or deal in alcohol. “Residential areas are not places for storing or manufacturing alcohol. These are family neighbourhoods with children and it is the responsibility of the government to ensure their protection,” Maiyo said.
He emphasised that Uasin Gishu County will not tolerate the storage, sale or manufacture of illicit alcohol, a position repeatedly stated by President William Ruto and Governor Jonathan Bii.
“Anyone intending to engage in illicit alcohol business should look elsewhere. Uasin Gishu is not the place,” Maiyo warned.
Illicit alcohol, officials said, poses a serious threat to public health and safety, especially given the proximity of the estate to major learning institutions, including Eldoret Polytechnic and several universities hosting tens of thousands of students.
Both police and county officials urged members of the public to continue sharing information, noting that community cooperation remains critical in the fight against illegal alcohol and other criminal activities.
By Fredrick Maritim
