Five arrested in Kitui illicit brew swoop

Five Arrested in Kitui Illicit Brew Swoop
Five individuals were arrested and hundreds of litres of illicit liquor were confiscated during a police swoop on illegal drinking dens in Kitui County. The multi-agency operation, which took place on Friday, targeted establishments in Kitui Central and Kitui West sub-counties that have been flouting the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act.
According to the Kitui County security team, the operation led by administration and regular police officers resulted in the seizure of 600 litres of kangara and other illicit brews. The suspects are accused of operating unlicensed bars and selling harmful, unregulated alcohol to the public. The confiscated liquor was publicly destroyed as a deterrent to other traders engaged in the illegal business.
Kitui County Commissioner Erastus Mbui reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the ongoing war against illicit brews and drug abuse. We will not relent in this fight. Our objective is to completely wipe out this trade that is ruining the lives of our young people and tearing families apart, Mbui stated. He warned that any bar owners operating without a valid license would face immediate closure and prosecution.
The crackdown is part of a broader national initiative to combat the manufacture, sale, and consumption of illicit alcohol. Local leaders and residents have supported the operation, citing the negative social and health impacts of the brews on the community. Security teams have vowed to sustain the momentum of the crackdown, with plans for further coordinated swoops in the coming weeks.