A combined team of security personnel at Litein town Bureti sub-county, Kericho on Wednesday seized 960 litres of changaa and a consignment of over 500 contraband cigarettes meant for exports during an impromptu raid.
Speaking to the press, area Deputy Commissioner Mrs. Alfet Jillo said the illicit liquor and cigarettes were seized following a tip off at a homestead of a notorious illicit brewer identified as Peter Kiprono who has had several convictions leveled against him at the Kericho Law court.
However, during the 3pm raid, no arrests were made as the alleged culprit was not present at home at the time.
She added that three bundles of the outlawed plastic paper bags by the National Environment Management Authority NEMA were also recovered suspecting to have been used to sell the illicit brew as take away sachets.
“Members of the security team were tipped off and on arrival found the illicit brew in 32 plastic jerricans each holding 30 litres which were buried underground and covered with livestock feeds as a camouflage while inside the house were the three bundles of the banned plastic paper bags,” said Mrs. Jillo.
The area government administrator further revealed that preliminary tests conducted on the recovered changaa found it had a pungent smell and had a flammable quality adding that conclusive tests were expected after the sample is taken to the government chemist before being presented as evidence against Kiprono in a court of law.
Mrs. Jillo said they would intensify in the fight against the sale and consumption of illicit brews in the area.
“We will not relent in conducting raids whether it is during the day or at night. We will continue with the war on illicit brews until the sub-county is free from these illegal substances,” added the Bureti sub-county commissioner.
The operation comes in the wake of an alleged sudden death of a 62-year-old man last year in April said to have been spotted drinking at a changaa den with friends, whose body was found at a footpath within Kipkosil village.
By Sarah Njagi
