Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said illicit brew now is equivalent to banditry and terrorism.
Speaking in Kirinyaga on Friday, the CS said that he will be very ruthless with the war against illicit brew.
“We are going to treat it (illicit brew menace) the way we have treated the problem of terrorism and banditry by having a continuous permanent operation until this problem is gone,” he said.
The CS ordered a nationwide crackdown on all village bars across the country.
This is in response to the tragic deaths of over 13 individuals in Kirinyaga who died after consuming illicit brew.
Kindiki said the nationwide operation is going to be active for as long as the illicit brew problem exists.
The Government will immediately conduct a Nationwide crackdown on illicit liquor, and security teams in all 47 Counties are instructed to effect the directive comprehensively. All outlets selling illicit alcohol must be closed, and those owning or running them apprehended and… pic.twitter.com/6UyG59v5Rj
— Kithure Kindiki (@KindikiKithure) February 16, 2024
This came as two fresh deaths happened in Kandongu village, Kirinyaga County after the consumption of an illegal brew.
Two other people are blinded in the hospital after they consumed the brew.
This came a week after at least 17 people died and dozens were admitted to hospital after drinking the poisonous alcohol.
Experts however feel the authorities’ approach to the issue is not bearing fruit and new methods need to be used in the war on illicit brew.
In the recent incident that left 17 people dead, several police officers are accused of selling the liquor that had been seized to a businessman for Sh20,000.
The four officers have since been produced in court and detained for 15 days as the probe into the saga goes on.
The ethanol had been confiscated and detained at a local police station before the officers sold it out.
It was then consumed at the California bar in Kangai village.
Those who consumed the liquor suddenly developed complications such as loss of sight, before six died on the spot.
The residents claim the exhibit had been held at Kiamaciri station for two days before being sold to the California bar owner.
Police say at least 17 families have since come out to report that they lost family members in the bar.
In a bid to end the bandit war, Kindiki on Thursday announced the recruitment and training of National Police Reservists starting next month to complement the efforts of multi-agency security personnel in countering terrorism financiers and orchestrators.
In a comprehensive effort to address evolving security threats, the government has unveiled a robust 5-year security equipment modernization plan estimated at Sh37 billion.
Detailing the acquisition process, CS Kindiki disclosed an expenditure of approximately Sh7 billion over the past year for the procurement of security equipment to empower personnel in handling emerging threats effectively.
“The second consignment, featuring drones and other modern surveillance equipment, is scheduled to arrive in the country within the next two months, while the third consignment, including gunship helicopters and other aerial mobility equipment, is expected within a year,” he said.
