Police in Murang’a County have seized assorted alcoholic drinks suspected to be counterfeit during a crackdown on illicit brews in Maragua, amid concerns over the circulation of unlicensed and substandard alcoholic products.
The operation, led by County Administration Police Service Commander Pauline Njeri, targeted a local bar and a nearby residential house following information from residents about suspected illegal alcohol trade.
Njeri said the operation was partly prompted by reports that a man had been admitted to hospital after allegedly consuming alcohol purchased from the bar.
“We have seized various brands which we suspect are being manufactured here. The area where the brews were stored is very dirty and unhygienic to keep something which is consumed by people,” Njeri said.
Among the alcoholic brands seized were Chrome and Kenya Cane, alongside other assorted drinks whose authenticity will be subjected to further examination by relevant authorities.
Njeri said the owner of the bar had been arrested and would face charges as investigations continued into the source of the alcoholic products and how they entered the local market.
“We have arrested the owner of the bar as we engage officers from KRA and KEBS to ascertain the stamps on the alcohol confiscated from the area,” she said.
Officers from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) are expected to assist in verifying the authenticity of tax stamps and standards marks found on the seized products.
Njeri said preliminary checks also indicated that the bar was operating on what appeared to be an invalid liquor license, raising concerns about compliance with licensing requirements.
She urged the county government and other agencies responsible for licensing to strengthen verification of liquor permits to prevent illegal operators from using fake, expired, or irregular licenses to conduct business.
The commander said the operation was part of wider efforts to combat the manufacture, storage, distribution, and sale of illicit alcoholic drinks in the county.
“These counterfeits and second-generation brews are dangerous to people’s health and we call on members of the community to help us in cracking down on the illegal business by providing information,” she said.
She appealed to residents to report suspected manufacturers, distributors and outlets dealing in illicit alcohol to security agencies, saying information from the public was crucial in identifying hidden production and distribution networks.
The crackdown comes amid continued national efforts by security agencies and regulatory authorities to address illicit and counterfeit alcoholic products. Such products can evade taxation and quality-control requirements, while unlicensed production and distribution can expose consumers to potentially harmful substances.
Njeri said the Murang’a operation would target not only outlets selling suspected illicit alcohol but also individuals involved in its manufacture, storage and distribution.
She warned traders against stocking alcoholic products whose origin, licensing status or authenticity could not be established, saying enforcement agencies would continue acting on information provided by members of the public.
The suspect is being held at Maragua Police Station and is expected to be arraigned in court as investigations continue into the source and distribution of the seized alcoholic products.
By Bernard Munyao
