Police have seized 481 litres of chang’aa and several other illegal items in Kisii County during an ongoing crackdown on illicit alcohol and drugs.
According to a statement shared by the National Police Service (NPS) on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, the operation was carried out at Itumbe Stage by officers from Sameta Sub-County, led by Sub-County Police Commander Madam Lucy Mugambi.
In the bust, police also recovered a batch of a substance suspected to be cannabis sativa, two imitation FN rifles, a toy pistol, and other items believed to be used in criminal activities. One person was arrested and is currently in police custody as investigations continue.
“The ongoing crackdown on illicit alcohol and drugs has extended to Kisii County, where police officers from Sameta Sub-County, led by Madam Lucy Mugambi, SP, conducted a targeted operation at Itumbe Stage earlier today. The officers seized 481 litres of chang’aa, a batch of a substance suspected to be cannabis sativa, two imitation FN rifles, one toy pistol, and other items believed to be used in criminal activities,” the authorities revealed.
Adding;
“One person was arrested, and the items remain in police custody as investigations continue. The National Police Service remains committed to its mission of eliminating the production and sale of illegal brews, harmful drugs, and substances.”
Crackdown on illicit brew
The crackdown in Kisii comes just days after a major bust in Samburu County, where five people were arrested and over 2,000 litres of kangara — a traditional beer made from maize or millet—were destroyed.
That operation was led by Senior Superintendent of Police Nicholas Kosgei in Maralal Town and conducted in collaboration with the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).
According to NACADA, the five suspects in Samburu were arrested in Rangau Village, Kirisia Division, for the possession and manufacture of illegal brews, including chang’aa, busaa, and kangara. The seized kangara was destroyed on-site, and the suspects were taken to Maralal Police Station, where they are awaiting arraignment in court.
NACADA CEO Anthony Omerikwa, in a recent report, indicated that 23 per cent of young adults aged 18-24 in urban areas have engaged in drug use at social gatherings, with private venues accounting for a significant portion of these cases.
He added that the rising cases of illicit drug abuse in Nairobi have heightened concerns over the need for stricter monitoring and regulation of short-term rentals.
“Over the past year, multiple reports have emerged of young people having indulged in drugs in bed and breakfast accommodations, in some instances leading to deadly overdose. In Nairobi, a string of such cases has raised alarms about the urgent need for firmer monitoring and regulation of short-term rental accommodations,” he said.
Adding;
“A report by NACADA indicates that 23 per cent of young adults aged 18-24 in urban areas have engaged in drug use at social gatherings, with private venues such as Airbnbs accounting for a significant percentage of these cases,” NACADA stated.
