Fresh Fears Over Illicit Liquor as Police Raid Kirinyaga Home

Residents of Kangai village in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, have renewed concerns about illicit alcohol after police discovered a property suspected of being used to package counterfeit liquor.

The operation followed reports from members of the public who alleged that alcoholic products were being prepared and supplied to bars from the residential premises. Kirinyaga Police Commander Anderson Njagi said officers raided the property on Thursday, October 8, 2026, recovering several suspected counterfeit brands.

Police Investigate Suspected Repackaging Operation

Officers reportedly found products labelled Dallas, Trigger, Jambo and Santa Ice during the raid. A further 157 empty crates bearing different alcohol brand labels were recovered, raising suspicions that the premises may have been used to package and seal liquor for distribution.

Njagi said investigators had documented the recovered items and were arranging further examinations. The owner of the property had not been arrested by the time the operation was reported, with police continuing efforts to establish responsibility.

Past Deaths Fuel Safety Concerns

The discovery has heightened worries in an area that has previously experienced deaths associated with illicit alcohol consumption. Njagi said residents had not forgotten the earlier tragedy and that authorities wanted to prevent further fatalities.

He also questioned the hygiene conditions at the property, warning that the circumstances surrounding the suspected operation raised concerns about the suitability of the products for human consumption. However, the seized alcohol must undergo laboratory testing before its composition and safety can be conclusively established.

KRA and KEBS Expected to Assist

Police said the case would involve the Kenya Revenue Authority, the Kenya Bureau of Standards and other relevant government agencies. Their investigations are expected to examine the products and determine whether applicable requirements on alcohol production, labelling, taxation and distribution were followed.

The raid forms part of wider efforts to disrupt the trade in illicit alcoholic beverages, which can expose consumers to serious health risks. Police have urged residents to report suspicious brewing, packaging and distribution activities as authorities pursue those suspected of operating outside the law.

The investigation remains ongoing, with further action expected after the recovered products are examined and those responsible for the premises are identified.