Police in Trans Nzoia stoned during crackdown on illicit brews

KENYA: Administration police officers were forced to abandon a crackdown on illicit brews after the consumers pelted them with stones.

The officers had accompanied Sokomoko assistant chief Milka Limo in conducting raids on illicit brew dens at Sitatunga in Cherangany, Trans Nzoia County.

The officers and the administrator were forced to run for their lives when the drunkards they had cornered started pelting them with stones.

Not even firing gunshots in the air could scare the visibly agitated merrymakers of the outlawed alcohol. All sorts of crude weapons within the drunkards' reach were used on the officers.

Eyewitness told The Standard that the drunkards, backed by the illicit brews' dealers, denied the officers an opportunity to access chang'aa dens in the area.

"The officers had arrived in the village at 9am when they were confronted by the consumers and chang'aa dealers. The group pelted the officers with stones, forcing them to abandon their mission," said an eyewitness.

Area senior chief Joseph Wayele confirmed the incident and termed it regrettable and one that erodes moral standards in the area.

He vowed to deal with the situation and bring to book those who obstructed the officers from doing their work.

Mr Wayele, who arrived at the village later, managed to arrest some of the consumers who were apparently celebrating their "win" against the APs.

"The village is notorious for consumption of illicit brews and I will not allow drunkards to control the area by blocking officers from doing their work," vowed the chief.

Wayele disclosed that over 2,000 people had been arrested in the location since the crackdown on illicit brews started last year.