The Mountain Journal
Formidable teams
formed to deal with rogue illicit liquor in Murang’a have unearthed the
presence of counterfeits stocked in the licensed outlets.
There has been a
scuffle between the police and the bar owners defending confiscation of the
products citing they had been distributed by genuine suppliers, apart from
lacking stamps from KRA and Kebs.
The multi agency teams has been combing the sub counties looking for the dealers behind
the illicit business from the towns to the villages.
Operation to
sanitize the counties in Central Kenya kicked off immediately Deputy President
Rigathi Gachagua and Inspector General of Police Japeth Koome issued a
directive to the police and administrators to wipe out the illicit brews from
the Central region.
Photo/ Murang’a County Police Commander David Mathiu coordinating crackdown of illicits and sub standard liquor.
Murang’a County Police
Commander David Mathiu said in three days have unearthed tens of outlets
without valid licenses, and operating in disrespect of opening and closing
hours, that saw more than 30 attendants nabbed.
“We have managed
to destroyed more than 3,000 liters of masebebu and 6,000 litres of changaa,”
said the police commander adding that the crackdown would continue.
In the crackdown carried out in the nine sub counties, Mr Mathiu said it was shocking that they discovered use of chemicals among them yeast and molasses in the preparation of instant ‘Masebebu’ found harmful to the consumers.
Also 15 kilogrammes of
bhang was netted during the intensive search celebrated by residents who
have lived in intimidation by peddlers, some growing bhang in their kitchen
gardens.
Photo/ Exhibits that the police inmpounded from liquor outs in a crack down ordered to eradicate illicit and sub standard liquor from the market.
Mathiu said he will deal with alcoholism menace through the support of the multi agency teams that will help in monitoring the people behind the illicit
products in the locality.
Also in the
Chania river banks, the police team seized apparatus used by the
merchants to manufacture the illicit brews.
In Murang’a there are 2,996 bars,
with another 2,000 seeking fresh licenses from the Murang’a county
government.
www.themountainjournal.co.ke
