Nonagenarian arrested over illicit alcohol brewing

Nanyuki KNA, Friday, June 9, 2023

by Muturi Mwangi

There was a drama at Majengo Informal settlement in Nanyuki town, Laikipia County after a woman attempted to avoid arrest by vowing to curse security officials who dared touch her during an illicit alcohol crackdown operation.

The nonagenarian, identified as Marikuni Tanaba was found hiding six liters of chang'aa beneath her clothes.

During the sting operation, by the multi-agency security team, they further unearthed several bottles of illicit alcohol and crude weapons which were suspected to be used for conducting criminal activities in Nanyuki.

Over forty kitchen knives, a crowbar, five axes and six pangas were unearthed during the raid at the nonagenarian’s house in Majengo.

Confirming the incident, Laikipia East Deputy Commissioner (DCC) Patrick Muli said that, the 99-year-old woman had been conducting illicit brew selling business for some time and when security officers confront her, she threatens to curse them in a bid to escape arrest, however, her days of notorious criminal activities had come to an end.

“We have been informed that this woman has been a nuisance for long time, we have recovered nine litres of illicit brew and over forty kitchen knives hidden in a metallic box, a crowbar used for breaking into houses, five axes and six pangas,” said Muli, adding that, other items were recovered believed to be proceeds of crime.

Laikipia East sub county police commander John Tarus warned that whoever is found operating an outlawed business would be arrested regardless of their age.

Elsewhere, in Likii informal settlement, about 760 litres of Kangara were destroyed during the operation; the alcohol was recovered hidden along the riverbanks of Nanyuki River.

Muli said that illicit brew dealers had devised ways of conducting the illegal business but the government would not rest until they won war on the illicit alcohol.

“We will still continue in this fight of illicit alcohol despite their new tactics of evading arrest, we will get them and get rid of everything. I want to urge residents to volunteer information that could help us unearth the brewers,” said the DCC.

He further cautioned against consuming the illicit alcohol noting they were prepared in a dirty environment hence risky.

Janet Muthoni, one of the illicit alcohol brewers and a mother of five children vowed to stop the illicit alcohol business, acknowledging that harsh economic situations had forced her to conduct the brewing business.

The arrested suspects were taken to Nanyuki police station to await their charges in court

Meanwhile, so far in June alone, about 2060 litres of Kangara were destroyed in Laikipia East.

Courtesy ; K. N. A