NACADA seizes suspected illicit alcohol in Kirinyaga

Multi-agency teams under the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) have raided three entertainment establishments in Kirinyaga County, seizing a large quantity of suspected illicit and expired alcohol.

The venues, reportedly owned by a local alcohol distributor, were targeted after preliminary compliance checks.

Officers recovered hundreds of bottles of suspected counterfeit spirits, some packaged in beer bottles with Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) stamps that could not be verified.

A portion of the stock was also past its expiry date.

Speaking at the scene, NACADA Chief Executive Officer Anthony Omerikwa said the operation was planned following ongoing monitoring.

“This was not a random operation; it was precision-led. We conducted compliance checks at all marked establishments within Kirinyaga County,” Omerikwa said.

He added that intelligence suggested the distributor may have recently established a new site in a neighbouring county, noting that the agency is pursuing follow-up investigations.

Omerikwa described the raid as part of a nationwide strategy to curb alcohol and substance abuse.

“In line with the Presidential directive, our new strategy has shifted focus squarely to the source of the poison that has been killing our people. We are not just chasing retailers; we are dismantling the supply chain and breaking the distribution networks across the country," he said.

The operation, which involved NACADA, the police, and KRA, resulted in the arrest of two individuals managing the outlets. They are assisting authorities with investigations.

The seized alcohol has been taken for analysis at the Government Chemist to determine its composition and confirm compliance with safety standards.

Residents expressed concern about the presence of expired and potentially unsafe products in the community.

The raids reflect NACADA’s intensified efforts to enforce regulations and safeguard public health.