Africa-Press – Kenya. Illicit brew worth more than 1.7 million litres has been destroyed in a crackdown that was intensified in February by the government.
The crackdown on illicit liquor and psychotropic substances is being led by National Government Administrative Officers. Hard drugs worth millions of shillings have also been seized.
Interior PS Dr Raymond Omollo said the operation will be intensified further as the government seeks to boost public health and upend the social and security challenges posed by this trade.
He said the multi-agency team on the ground is under strict instructions to go hard on those involved in the illegal trade, particularly the producers, distributors and sellers.
“We must disrupt the trade to stand any chance of breaking the chain of harm that is flowing from the production to the consumption of these deadly drinks,” the PS said after reviewing the latest report on the progress of the mission.
According to the report, kangara tops the list of the illicit brews netted since January with more than 1.6 million litres tipped so far.
Chang’aa and busaa, whose figures in the ongoing operation stand at 330,824 litres and 112,915 litres respectively are also popular bootleg liquors among brewers and consumers.
Omollo also singled out the widespread abuse of cannabis as a major cause for concern, with a total of 347,944 rolls, stones and stems of the drug seized so far. It has been impounded majorly from Central, Eastern and Rift Valley regions.
Officers have also seized at least four tonnes of the drugs in bulk form in what turns out to be a confirmation of the government’s worst fears in the war against narcotics.
“These figures speak volumes about what we are dealing with as a country,” the PS said.
He added that the government will fight the trade from its source while deploying other strategic interventions to suppress substance abuse and support addicts in their journey to recovery and quitting.
“We are now prioritising evidence-based approaches in our interventions and need to work together in harm reduction strategies, that include investing in education, healthcare, job creation, and social programmes to help our people make wiser choices.”
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