Dozens of illicit brews and over 191,000 banned plastic bags have been confiscated at the municipal stalls number 144 and 162 in Kapsabet town and two vendors arrested.
The two vendors who are currently being held at Kapsabet Police Station were said to be making illicit brews from mixing water and ethanol, then packaging them in bottles and selling to local consumers.
In addition, the dealers were reported to be conducting business without a license as well as selling Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) uncertified products which is against the law.
According to the Assistant County Commissioner Margaret Thuo, they were able to identify the vendors’ stalls through a combined effort with NACADA, NEMA, the area chiefs and their assistants.
Confirming the incident, the ACC said the over 50 cartons of alcohol were packaged in bottles of different labels including Kingdom vodka, Ken extra, chrome, triple S vodka, general meakings, kibao, idakho, Kenya king, white beer, redstar, African special vodka, horizon and viceroy.
“Upon inspection by our police officers, we were able to get hold of over 191,000 pieces of banned plastic bags, illicit brews in unsealed plastic bottles of over 391 bottles,” confirmed Thuo.
The ACC further said that they confiscated over 27,220 pieces of super-match cigarettes which were said to be untaxed and meant for export purposes hence not for sale within the country.
She said they have informed the Kenya Bureau of Standards, Kenya Revenue Authority and the Anti- Counterfeit Authority of Kenya based in Eldoret about the incident.
The administration has called upon the police to keep hunting down victims conducting illegal business in the area and the County at large.
“Our administration will not rest until we get rid of all illegal businesses, especially the illicit brew within Nandi County. You people making these illegal drinks should abstain from it before we get to you,” she stated.
Samples of the alcohol were taken to a government chemist for testing while the two victims were taken to the police station where they recorded their statements and several charges filed were against them waiting to be arraigned in court.
By Judith Jepleting
