The government has stepped up efforts to eradicate illicit brews across the country, with top security officials calling for stricter enforcement and accountability at the grassroots level.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, speaking during a public forum in an unnamed county, directed county commissioners to take firm action against individuals engaged in the sale and distribution of illegal alcohol.
“Our young people are losing themselves because of consuming illicit brews,” said CS Kindiki. “Illicit brew is the main cause of stagnation among youth and the community at large.”
Kindiki emphasized the need for tighter regulations in the issuance of alcohol licenses, noting that the unchecked growth of liquor outlets was fueling the crisis.
“A new law should be enforced towards the access of licenses because nowadays clubs and places selling alcohol have become many in our community—more than even churches and schools,” he added.
His remarks come just days after residents from the Mt. Kenya region raised the alarm over the resurgence of illegal liquor. In Meru County, authorities seized over 6,000 litres of chang’aa and brewing materials in an ongoing crackdown.
Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen has also joined in the call to action. While speaking at a church service in Makutano, Meru County, on April 30, 2025, Murkomen warned chiefs and their assistants against negligence, stating that they would be held accountable if illicit brew operations continued in their jurisdictions.
“It is not possible for illicit brew to be sold at any village without the chief or assistant chief’s awareness,” Murkomen asserted. “Their role goes beyond receiving a salary—they are responsible for the well-being of the people.”