The government has pledged to intensify the war on illicit brew and counterfeit alcohol, with Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen warning that the fight will not relent until the menace is defeated.
Speaking at the Lower Eastern Region edition of the Jukwaa la Usalama forum in Machakos, Murkomen directed National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) and the National Police Service (NPS) to immediately launch operations targeting illegal brew dens and apprehend offenders. He further raised concerns about the illegal use of counterfeit stamps from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to endorse adulterated alcohol.
“These issues are being dealt with, and the regional and county security teams are on high alert,” Murkomen said, emphasizing that illicit brew and fake alcohol are a cross-cutting national menace requiring urgent intervention.
Murkomen announced that the government is finalizing tougher regulations aimed at dismantling the networks involved in the manufacture and sale of illegal alcohol. He also underscored the importance of open and candid discussions on security and service delivery during his engagement with locals at the Machakos County Commissioner’s residence.
During the public engagements, frustrations from residents were evident. Some locals accused certain security officers of colluding with rogue traders, thereby allowing the illicit trade to flourish. Residents from Machakos and Makueni counties specifically urged assistant chiefs and chiefs to take firm action against known brewers operating with impunity.
Joining Murkomen at the event were Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti, her Deputy Francis Mwangangi, Internal Security Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo, Eastern Regional Commissioner Paul Rotich, County Commissioner Josephine Ouko, County Assembly Speaker Anne Kiusya, Members of the County Assembly, and senior ministry officials.
Locals also called for the adoption of a multi-agency approach to dismantle the supply chains of adulterated alcohol, noting that isolated efforts were insufficient to tackle the deeply entrenched networks. Murkomen reassured residents that the government is committed to restoring safety and public health across all regions affected by the illicit alcohol crisis.
