The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has uncovered a major counterfeit alcohol operation in Kenol town, Murang’a County, following an early morning raid.
In a statement, NACADA said the illegal operation was being run from a residential house in Kagaa sub-location. Officers discovered large quantities of suspected industrial ethanol, a dangerous chemical not meant for human consumption, which was being used to make fake alcohol.
Also recovered during the raid were food colouring agents used to make the alcohol look genuine, thousands of empty 250ml bottles of different brands, plastic caps, labelling and sealing equipment, and fake Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) excise stamps. More than 200 cartons of ready-for-sale counterfeit alcohol were also seized.
NACADA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Anthony Omerikwa described the operation as a serious threat to public health, warning that counterfeit alcohol can cause severe illness, blindness, or death.
“This is not a legitimate business. It is a dangerous activity that puts lives at risk,” Dr. Omerikwa said. He added that the raid was carried out following credible intelligence and is part of a wider national crackdown on illegal alcohol.
He said the seized items will be destroyed and that investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest all those involved, including suppliers and distributors. NACADA has also started asset recovery processes against those behind the operation.
Residents of the area said they were shocked to learn that the quiet home was being used to manufacture illegal alcohol. Some said they had noticed vehicles coming and going late at night but did not suspect criminal activity.
“We thought it was a normal home or a small business. We are shocked to learn it was making fake alcohol,” said one resident.
Many locals praised NACADA for the operation and called on authorities to continue cracking down on illegal brewers.
The Murang’a raid comes just days after another major NACADA operation in Machakos County, where counterfeit alcohol worth about KSh 13 million was seized.
NACADA has urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities in their neighbourhoods, saying community cooperation is key in the fight against illegal alcohol and drug abuse.
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