Police have destroyed more than 7,000 litres of illicit brews and brewing materials following a major crackdown on illegal alcohol production in Soweto, Nairobi County.
The operation, conducted on Thursday, November 5, 2026, involved officers from Kasarani Sub-County who raided suspected illegal brewing premises as the National Police Service (NPS) intensified its campaign against the manufacture and distribution of unregulated alcoholic drinks.
According to the National Police Service, officers recovered and destroyed 4,000 litres of kangara, 2,800 litres of molasses, 160 litres of chang’aa and 80 litres of muratina during the operation.
The quantities comprised 4,240 litres of alcoholic brews and 2,800 litres of molasses used in the production process.
Police also dismantled brewing apparatus and distilling equipment found at the premises, disrupting the operations used to manufacture the illegal drinks.
The NPS said the crackdown forms part of intensified security operations targeting illegal alcohol production networks within Nairobi Region and other parts of the country.
The Service warned that unregulated alcohol production poses significant public health risks and contributes to crime and insecurity within communities.
The latest operation comes amid a broader government campaign against illicit alcohol, with authorities stepping up enforcement measures targeting manufacturers, distributors and other networks involved in the illegal trade.
On October 22, 2026, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki announced that security agencies had conducted 125 raids in 10 days as the government prepared tougher laws targeting criminal networks involved in the production and distribution of illicit alcohol.
Kindiki said nine of the operations targeted illicit ethanol, while another 116 focused on illegal brews manufactured without meeting public health and quality standards.
The government has also been pursuing a multi-agency approach involving security and regulatory institutions to strengthen enforcement and protect consumers from unsafe alcoholic products.
The National Police Service has urged members of the public to cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspected illegal brewing activities at the nearest police station or through its emergency toll-free channels.
Police say operations will continue as they seek to dismantle illegal brewing establishments and disrupt the networks behind the production of illicit alcoholic drinks.
