11 people arrested, illicit brew seized in police crackdown in Samburu

Police in Samburu during a crackdown on illicit brew in the area.

Eleven suspects have been arrested, 9000 litres of kangara and 149 litres of chang’aa seized in a police crackdown at Loikas village within Maralal town in Samburu central sub-county.

Samburu central sub-county police Commander Alex Rotich said that residents have been negatively affected by illicit brewing vowing that the crackdown will continue to ensure that war on illicit brew has been worn.

“Residents in this village have been affected by this business, we will make sure that illicit brewing and consumption has been reduced to a minimal level or finish it, people are just drinking instead of taking care of livestock,” Mr Rotich said.

However, chang’aa brewers said they are forced to engage in the illicit brewing business in order to raise income to cater for their families’ basic needs.

Ms Rose Akiru said that: “I had been going against government’s directive against brewing to do this business because of my children, I have earned and educated my children from it, if it were not for my children, I couldn’t have engaged myself in this business  but I have stopped and praying to God for an alternative source of income.”

Ms Franciscah Elimlim, a resident, said that they don’t have any other way to generate income apart from brewing illicit alcohol as she complained of destruction of property during the raid.

“If we stop this business what shall we eat, most of us have been educated by money raised from illicit brewing, these people should stop frustrating us damaging our drums because chang’aa has never killed anyone,” she said.

Maralal location chief Selina Lemakara urged the locals to embrace alternative source of livelihood as the crackdown against illicit brew is aimed at reducing theft cases, school dropout among children, and marriage break ups.