The government has intensified the crackdown on counterfeit and illicit alcohol following growing concern over unsafe drinks in the Kenyan market.
The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) says 11 people have been arrested and significant quantities of counterfeit alcoholic beverages seized in a 10 day operation in Nairobi.
The operation, conducted between August 20 and 31, covered Roysambu, Kasarani, Dagoretti North, Dagoretti South, Starehe, Lang’ata, Embakasi West and Kamukunji.
NACADA said the raids exposed several violations, including counterfeit KRA excise stamps, uncoded alcoholic products, expired drinks and other counterfeit products.
The authority said it is working with the Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Bureau of Standards and the National Police Service to establish the source of the products and bring those behind the trade to justice.
The crackdown comes amid growing public concern over counterfeit alcohol, with Kenyans raising alarm on social media over suspected fake products being sold in shops and entertainment spots.
The concerns have also revived memories of previous deaths linked to illicit alcohol.
In February 2024, at least 20 people died in Kirinyaga after consuming suspected poisonous alcohol, while others reportedly lost their sight.
The tragedy exposed the dangers posed by illicit alcohol and triggered renewed calls for tougher action against those manufacturing and selling unsafe drinks.
Recent raids in Nairobi have now shown that counterfeit alcohol remains a problem.
In one operation, authorities seized hundreds of alcoholic drinks bearing suspected fake KRA stamps, while bottles, bottle tops and other materials used in repackaging alcohol have also been recovered.
NACADA said the latest operation is not targeting individual outlets alone but the wider networks involved in manufacturing, distributing and selling counterfeit and illicit alcoholic products.
“The ongoing operations are not limited to individual outlets but are intended to disrupt the wider networks involved in the manufacture, distribution and sale of counterfeit and illicit alcoholic products,” NACADA said.
The authority said the crackdown will continue in collaboration with other government agencies as it seeks to keep unsafe alcoholic products off the market.