Police in Kiambu East Sub-County on Wednesday, October 28, conducted a scaled-up joint operation targeting wines and spirits outlets, bars and restaurants and local pubs in Ndumberi, checking for illicit brews and counterfeit alcoholic drinks.

The operation, authorized by Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) Kiambu East Elema Sora, was led by Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Ndumberi Nancy Atieno. Officers from Kanunga, Ting’ang’a, Kiamumbi and other stations participated.

During the crackdown, OCS Atieno revealed that the intensified checks followed claims by residents that a local had died after consuming illicit brew the previous week, as well as reports that some outlets were selling illegal alcohol.

“The RRI is being done continuously. We have been doing liquor enforcement continuously. Ndumberi is a village unlike Kiambu which is more metropolitan. So even businesses are owned by the natives here, so business rivalry could be contributing to these allegations,” she added.

The officers used Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) verification tools to check alcoholic drinks for possible counterfeiting. No illicit brews were detected in the outlets inspected during Wednesday’s operation.

In a press briefing after the operation, OCPD Sora said the crackdown had been ongoing for several months but had recently been expanded to cover more areas and involve additional officers.

“We have managed to decrease the number of arrests related to alcohol and drug abuse, in the past two weeks, officers recovered only 59 litres of chang’aa, down from previous large volumes, while intercepting 544 rolls of cannabis sativa. Four bars were intercepted, one was unlicensed and one was linked to counterfeit sales, attracting fines totaling Sh150,000.” he said

He raised concern over the rampant abuse of cannabis sativa in Kiambu East, terming it a “menace” among the youth.

Despite the disturbing number of licensed liquor operators in Ndumberi, the police boss urged residents to report suspected violations to the police instead of confronting business owners, saying licensed traders had a right to operate within the law.

The exercise forms part of a continuous Rapid Results Initiative and the broader national campaign against illicit alcohol and drug abuse intensified by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.

On October 21, 2026, Kindiki, speaking during a review meeting at the Official Residence in Karen, Nairobi, noted that tightened collaboration between national and county governments would bring better results.

“The government continues to sustain the war against illicit alcohol and drug abuse to protect public health and secure the nation for present and future generations. Intelligence-led multi-agency operations are progressively dismantling cartels, disrupting supply chains and incapacitating manufacturer establishments,” Kindiki added.

by Rose Muthoni and Grace Naishoo