Multi-agency teams led by NACADA on Tuesday afternoon raided three popular entertainment spots in Kirinyaga County and recovered a large stock of suspected illicit and expired alcohol.
The three premises, all linked to one well-known alcohol distributor in the area, were stormed in a coordinated operation that officials say was based on intelligence. Inside, officers found hundreds of bottles of suspected counterfeit vodka.
What raised further concern was the packaging. The spirit had been poured into beer bottles bearing Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) stamps that could not be confirmed as genuine. Investigators also discovered that a number of the bottles had already expired, yet were still being sold to customers.
NACADA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Anthony Omerikwa, speaking at one of the scenes, said the distributor had been under watch for some time.
“This person has been on our radar for a while. Today we moved in on all her identified outlets in Kirinyaga for compliance checks. This was not random — it was guided by intelligence,” he said.
Dr. Omerikwa added that authorities are now pursuing a new distribution point believed to have been set up in a neighbouring county.
The crackdown involved NACADA officers, police and KRA officials. Two people found managing the outlets were arrested and are assisting with investigations.
