You have nowhere to hide, illicit brews and drug peddlers warned

Naivasha,

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

K.N.A. - By Mabel Keya

Rift Valley Regional Commissioner (RC) Mr. Abdi Hassan has declared total war on all brands of portable second generation and illicit brews and drugs which they have destroyed the lives of many young people countrywide.

Hassan said the second generation brews were harmful to the health of the consumers as they did not meet the required standards.

“They don’t even pay tax on the brews, so the country is not benefiting from these businesses,” Hassan said and added that they were working with County Governments in ensuring that dealers in these illicit brews area not licensed.

This happened as security personnel in Naivasha Sub-county impounded hundreds of cartons of assorted brands of portable second generation brews worth over Sh3 million and arrested several people in connection with the liquor haul.

The operation also netted 300 kilogrammes of bhang (cannabis sativa) with a street value of Sh300,000 and thousands of empty bottles and bottle tops which were meant to be used to pack more brands of illicit liquor.

The consignment was impounded from various parts of Naivasha town and its environs such as Karagita, Kayole, Karai and Kabati.

Speaking while inspecting the impounded illegal consignment in Naivasha on Tuesday, Mr. Hassan said security personnel in the region will not relent until the area is free from illicit brews and narcotic drugs.

“I warn all illicit brew brewers in the entire Rift Valley region to stop this vice before we catch up with them because we will not relent until our region is free from illicit brews as they are harmful to the health of our people,” he said.

Hassan who was accompanied by the Regional Security team said they will work round the clock to seal all illegal routes used to smuggle in ethanol that is used to make the second generation liquor as a way of ending the vice.

The RC warned all those involved in the production and sale of illicit brews in the region that their days were numbered and told them the law allows the state to repossess the vehicle in which the illegal liquor is transported or even property on which the brew is being prepared.

It’s worth noting that illicit brews have killed many people in the country in the past, leaving many others blind or their health affected in one way or another.

Recently, the Government declared total war on illicit brews and drugs saying they have destroyed the lives of many young people in the country and particularly Central region.

In August 2021, 10 people, including a pregnant woman died and several others were hospitalized in Bahati area, Nakuru County after consuming an illicit brew. Following this incident, six government officers in the region were interdicted.            

A report from the World Health Organization (WHO) released in 2011 estimates that 2.5 million people die in the world each year from more than 60 alcohol related illnesses and injuries.

COURTESY: K.N.A.

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