A chang'aa den in Kawangware, Nairobi/ SCREENGRABOfficers from the Sierra Team, operating within the Congo area of Kawangware, have arrested three individuals suspected of manufacturing illicit brew.
The arrests were made on Monday at approximately 10:30am.
During the operation, the officers recovered 2,000 litres of chang’aa and six copper coils used in the distillation process.
Additionally, 5,000 litres of chang’aa and 4,000 litres of kangara were destroyed at the scene.
In a video seen by the Star, officers are seen collecting substances stored in plastic bags and inspecting an unhygienic storage facility.
The suspects, two men and one woman, are expected to be charged with the offence of manufacturing illicit brew and being in possession of 2,000 litres of chang’aa.
They are currently being held at Capitol Hill police station.
This comes two weeks after a multi-agency team led by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) raided an illicit alcohol-brewing den in Kisii and arrested five suspects.
The team raided Mwaguto village in Kisii South subcounty where 55,000 litres of kangara and 500 litres of chang’aa were confiscated.
The suspects, three women and two men, are set to be arraigned in court to face charges.
In 2024, while serving as the Interior CS, Kithure Kindiki declared illicit alcohol, drug and substance abuse a top national security threat.
The declaration, he said, meant the fight against the illicit drugs had been given elevated significance necessitating intensified war against drugs.
In December 2024, following a raid in a chang’aa den in Meru, Nacada reaffirmed its collaboration with law enforcement agencies to ensure thorough investigations and the prosecution of individuals engaging in the illegal trade.
The action is part of the authority’s commitment to curbing the availability and consumption of harmful, unregulated alcoholic substances in Kenya, which pose serious health risks and undermine societal well-being.
Speaking after the operation, Nacada head of enforcement Nicholas Kosgey, emphasised the importance of community cooperation in addressing the challenge.
"We urge members of the public to continue providing information that can help us identify and dismantle these illegal operations. Together, we can protect our communities from the harmful effects of illicit brews," he said.
Then, the Authority encouraged Kenyans to report suspicious activities through the toll-free helpline, 1192.
