In one of the largest anti-alcohol operations in recent months, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has seized more than 50,000 litres of illicit alcohol during a coordinated dawn raid in Kericho County.

The dramatic operation carried out in the early hours of Thursday morning in Kaplelartet Location, Sigowet Division involved a joint team of NACADA officers, the National Police Service (NPS), and National Government Administration Officers (NGAO). The mission targeted secret brewing dens believed to be the heart of an expansive illegal alcohol network supplying the South Rift region.

According to NACADA’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Anthony Omerikwa, the multi-agency task force successfully confiscated and destroyed 50,000 litres of kangara, 100 litres of chang’aa, and 1,000 litres of molasses, which were being used in the production of the illegal brews.

“This is part of a coordinated national effort to dismantle the networks behind the production and sale of illegal alcohol,”
Dr. Omerikwa told reporters at the scene.
“We are sending a clear message that the government will not tolerate the destruction of lives caused by these dangerous brews.”

Inside the Operation

The team, backed by armed officers and environmental health officials, descended on the hideouts after weeks of intelligence gathering. Residents watched as officers combed through homesteads and forested areas, uncovering hidden drums, pipes, and fermentation tanks buried underground.

Witnesses said the brewers attempted to flee, but several suspects were arrested as police cordoned off escape routes. The seized brews were later poured out and destroyed in an open field under police supervision.

“We have been living in fear. These brewers operate day and night, luring our youth and destroying families,”
said Mary Chepkoech, a Kaplelartet resident who watched as the operation unfolded.
“We are relieved that the government is finally taking action.”

A National Campaign Reignited

Dr. Omerikwa said the crackdown was part of the Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) against illicit alcohol a nationwide campaign launched under the directive of Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen earlier this year. The initiative aims to stamp out illegal alcohol dens, which have been blamed for thousands of deaths and long-term health complications, particularly among young men in rural Kenya.

“The fight against illicit alcohol is not just about law enforcement it’s about protecting lives,”
Omerikwa emphasized.
“Our children are home for the holidays, and we must make sure they are safe from the dangers of drugs and alcohol.”

He said NACADA has intensified operations in high-risk areas across Rift Valley, Central, Eastern, and Western Kenya, working closely with community leaders, chiefs, and village elders to identify the sources and distributors of the harmful brews.

Kericho Crackdown: A Turning Point

Authorities described the Kericho operation as one of the most significant seizures in the South Rift region this year. The crackdown marks a major escalation in the government’s war against illicit alcohol, following similar raids in Murang’a, Nakuru, and Kisii Counties in recent weeks.

Kericho County Commissioner Michael Mwangi, who was also present, praised the collaboration between NACADA, the police, and the community, saying it represents the renewed determination to protect public health and restore order.

“We are taking this fight to every doorstep,” Mwangi said.
“Illicit alcohol has destroyed homes, robbed us of productive young people, and torn apart families. This is not just a security issue it’s a moral one.”

He warned that individuals caught brewing or selling the dangerous concoctions would face prosecution without leniency.

The Human Toll of Illicit Alcohol

The crackdown comes amid growing public concern over the devastating effects of illegal brews that continue to claim lives in rural Kenya. Many of these drinks are made using industrial chemicals, contaminated water, and unregulated additives, which pose severe health risks.

In 2023 alone, at least 150 deaths across the country were linked to the consumption of illicit alcohol, according to NACADA records. Survivors often suffer blindness, liver damage, and permanent disability.

“We are losing a generation to greed and ignorance,”
lamented Pastor Isaac Rono, a local cleric who has been campaigning against the vice.
“It’s heartbreaking to bury young men every few months because of these toxic drinks.”

A Call to Action

Dr. Omerikwa urged the public to support the government’s efforts by reporting illegal brewing activities and avoiding cheap, unlicensed drinks. He said NACADA is also working on expanding community-based rehabilitation programs to help recovering addicts rebuild their lives.

“We cannot arrest our way out of this problem,” he noted.
“We must educate, rehabilitate, and empower our people especially the youth to make better choices.”

The CEO further assured that the agency will continue to deploy enforcement teams in all hotspots throughout the festive season to curb the sale of illegal alcohol.

As the smoke from the destroyed brews drifted into the morning sky over Kaplelartet, a sense of relief and renewed vigilance settled among residents. For many, it was not just the end of a dangerous operation, but the beginning of hope for safer, healthier communities.