50,000 litres of ethanol seized in Nyandarua

By James Munyeki

Police in Nyandarua have seized more than 50,000 litres of ethanol destined for Nyahururu town, as the crackdown on illegal brews continues.

The alcoholic drink was intercepted, as it was being transported in a lorry, at Subukia along Nyahururu-Nakuru road on Saturday.

Nyandarua OCPD Jasper Ombati who led the operation said that chemical was suspected to have been brewed in Naivasha and was being transported to Nyahururu for sale.

He said that the seizure followed a tip off from members of the public that the illegal liquor was being transported.

"We received a tip off from members of the public and we laid an ambush and mounted road blocks along the roads leading to the town. We managed to impound the vehicle which was transporting the illegal brew," he said.

Ombati said that the ethanol was packed in five main brands namely Yuris, Vuvuzela, Choices, Suka and Trigger.

He said that no one was arrested as the occupants of the vehicle escaped upon seeing the police at the roadblock.

The OCPD noted that the police were on the look out for a prominent businessman who they said was behind the brewing syndicate within the town.

"This is a known businessman who has a depot within the town and we are going to arrest him soon. We are following crucial leads to know his whereabouts," he noted.

He warned that the war against illegal brews in the region would continue and those found selling alcoholic drinks packed in plastic containers would be arrested.

"We are following the presidential directive and those found contravening the law will be arrested and prosecuted. We are not leaving anything to chance and the crackdown will continue," he said.

The crackdown followed a demonstration by over 300 Nyahururu women who protested against rising cases of illegal brew sale in the area last Thursday.

It also follows the death of 19 people last week after they consumed illicit brew containing high levels of methanol.