The government will not relent in eradicating illicit brew and counterfeit alcohol across the country, with Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen directing intensified crackdowns on illegal alcohol dens.
Speaking during the conclusion of the Lower Eastern Region Jukwaa la Usalama public forum in Machakos, Murkomen instructed National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) and the National Police Service (NPS) to move swiftly in apprehending perpetrators involved in the trade of illicit brews and adulterated alcohol.
The CS also flagged the use of counterfeit stamps bearing Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) logos, which unscrupulous traders use to disguise fake products as legitimate.
“These issues are being dealt with, and the regional and county security teams are on high alert,” Murkomen assured the public.
He emphasized that illicit brews and fake alcohol pose a national threat, warning that the government is formulating tougher regulations to stem the vice due to its devastating social and health impacts.
During the public engagements, residents voiced their concerns, accusing some local security officials of complicity in the illicit trade. In particular, communities from Machakos and Makueni counties called on chiefs and assistant chiefs to take firmer action against known brewers, lamenting that many culprits continue to operate with impunity.
Locals also urged the government to employ a multi-agency approach to dismantle networks involved in the production and distribution of adulterated alcohol.
The government’s renewed campaign underscores its focus on protecting public health and ensuring accountability within enforcement agencies.
