Security agencies in Kirinyaga have launched a 14-day crackdown on illicit alcohol, counterfeit drinks and drug abuse, targeting manufacturers, distributors and outlets suspected of violating the law.
The Rapid Results Initiative brings together police, National Government Administration Officers, Nacada, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) and the county government in a coordinated enforcement operation.
County commissioner Shufaa Mwijuma and head of presidential special projects Dennis Itumbi are leading the operation, which will combine intelligence gathering, enforcement, public participation and regulatory measures.
Nacada deputy director in charge of compliance Amos Warui said the operation would also address the rapid growth of drinking outlets, particularly in rural areas where residents have raised concerns about their proximity to homes and other community facilities.
He said residents would be involved in the next licensing cycle to determine the number and location of bars in their communities.
“Once the county government starts the process, administrative officers will bring members of the public in to say what they want within their communities so we can have a way of reducing the number of outlets,” Warui said.
He said authorities needed to establish a baseline for the number of outlets required in each area, while taking into account previous violations and complaints against establishments seeking licence renewals.
“We need to come up with a baseline to see how many outlets we need in a given area because the people for whom these bars are being opened are the residents, and they have a say,” the official said.
Warui proposed concentrating bar and restaurant licences in major urban centres while limiting rural areas to fewer outlets operating within prescribed hours.
He said Nacada was receiving intelligence through its toll-free number 1192, with information shared with the county security team for follow-up.
The agency will also work with KRA and Kebs to strengthen enforcement across the alcohol supply chain, covering manufacturing, taxation, product standards and distribution.
Itumbi said the operation would be intelligence-led, with authorities targeting manufacturers, distributors and retailers involved in the illicit and counterfeit alcohol trade.
He said agencies had gathered information that would guide raids and other enforcement actions, with the operation designed to trace illegal products from their source through distribution networks.
“For the manufacturers of illicit and counterfeit brews, your days are over. The burial has just been announced today,” Itumbi warned.
He said the crackdown would focus on disrupting networks behind the manufacture and supply of illegal alcohol rather than merely seizing products from small-scale traders.
Itumbi said the operation would also coincide with the county’s October licensing cycle, providing an opportunity to reassess the number and location of alcohol outlets across Kirinyaga.
He called for particular attention to bars operating in rural areas, saying their proliferation could affect agricultural activities and community life.
Mwijuma said authorities would also target major manufacturers and distributors instead of focusing solely on individual traders.
“We have agreed that we will also be going for the big fish simply because we really want our county to stay free of this vice,” she said.
The commissioner also warned entertainment establishments against violating existing regulations, citing strip dancing at some local outlets.
The crackdown came amid calls for residents to have a greater role in determining county priorities through The Kirinyaga We Want petition before the county assembly.
The petition seeks to establish a formal mechanism through which residents can participate in county planning, budgeting and oversight.
Residents were urged to continue sharing information on manufacturers and distributors involved in illicit and counterfeit alcohol.
Security officers during the launch of the 14-day RRI in Kirinyaga county on September 28, 2026 /ALICE WAITHERA
