Brewer gets orders stopping police from raiding factory

The High Court has restrained police from raiding a liquor factory in Industrial Area in Nairobi pending the hearing of a case filed by its owners.

African Spirits Ltd through lawyer Omwanza Ombati moved to court claiming administration police from Langata on Monday arrived at the factory accompanied by wananchi and demanded to be allowed to inspect the company's products.

Justice Isaac Lenaola certified the matter as urgent and directed that they serve the Attorney General, the Interior ministry and Inspector General of Police.

Lenaola restrained the respondents, their agents and police officers from interfering, raiding, destroying or violently breaking into the factory pending hearing and determination of the suit.

The distillers want a declaration made by the court that any search at the premises, seizure and confiscation of property by police amounts to violation of the owners' rights. The owners say they are entitled to own and enjoy property under article 47 of the Constitution.