The suspected ethanol seized in Malaba, Busia county, June 19, 2025. /NPS
Police in Busia county's border town of Malaba have seized a lorry carrying an estimated 8,000 litres of suspected ethanol in a targeted operation aimed at disrupting the flow of illicit alcohol in the country.
The National Police Service (NPS) said the incident took place on Thursday, 19 June, when officers flagged down an Isuzu FRR lorry.
The driver immediately abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.
The lorry was towed to Malaba police station, where a multi-agency team searched it and found 32 drums—each suspected to contain 250 litres of ethanol—concealed beneath 52.5 sacks of what appeared to be wheat bran.
Both the vehicle and the consignment are being held at the station as investigations continue.
"Efforts to trace and apprehend the driver are ongoing," NPS said.
Ethanol, while used legally in industries such as pharmaceuticals and manufacturing, is frequently diverted into the illegal alcohol trade in Kenya.
It is often mixed with water and chemicals to produce potent brews such as chang’aa.
These unregulated drinks are sold cheaply in informal settlements and rural areas, bypassing safety standards and tax regulations.
Health experts warn that drinking illicit alcohol made from industrial ethanol can result in severe consequences, including liver damage, blindness, neurological disorders, and even death.
Contamination or incorrect mixing often leads to poisoning, and dozens of deaths have been reported in Kenya over the years due to toxic homemade brews.
The presence of wheat bran in the seized lorry is suspected to have been a decoy to conceal the ethanol drums, but it may also serve as a fermentation base for illicit brewing.
The NPS said Thursday’s operation is part of ongoing efforts to curb the production and distribution of illegal and unsafe alcoholic products across the country.
"This seizure is a significant step in protecting the public from harmful illicit liquor," the service said in a statement.
"We remain committed to safeguarding the health and safety of all Kenyans."
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