12 arrested in Isiolo, 1,200 litres of illicit brew destroyed

Illicit brews

Isiolo Central local administrators destroy illicit brew seized in Bulapesa during a raid on December 4, 2021. The officers destroyed 1,000 litres and 209 litres of busaa and chang'aa respectively and over 6000 litres of kangara.

Photo credit: Waweru Wairimu | Nation Media Group

Security officers in Isiolo on Saturday destroyed more than 1,000 litres of illicit brew and arrested 12 suspects during a nine-hour raid of brewing points in Isiolo town and its outskirts.

The destroyed brew include 1,000 litres of busaa, 209 litres of Chang’aa and 6,995 litres of Kangara used in the distillation of  chang’aa, all worth Sh332, 550.

Those arrested during the crackdown included three brewers and nine revellers who were found drinking by the team of national government administrators and National Police Service officers on Saturday morning.

Isiolo Central Assistant County Commissioner Mark Mdinyo said the exercise was aimed at ending the illegal business which has ruined lives of many youths in the county.

 “We are committed to ending the business because the cheap illicit drinks are ruining lives of many youths and turning many into zombies,” he said, adding that young people are involved in transportation and sale of the illicit liquor.

The administrator said the crackdown, also focusing on contraband goods, will be sustained for the next three weeks to ensure the region is safe from illicit brew.

He said the raids are also aimed at arresting large scale brewers who sell locally and in neighbouring counties.

 “The public should provide us with information on other drug dens so that we arrest more brewers and end the business,” he appealed.

The raid comes two months after Sh180, 000 worth of illicit brew was destroyed at Nang’atule market in Isiolo town.

The 12 suspects will be arraigned on Monday.