Four arrested, 200 litres of illicit brew seized in Tharaka Nithi

Four people were arrested and 200 litres of illicit brew seized at Iruri village, Maara subcounty in Tharaka Nithi county on July 5, 2025. /DCI

Four people have been arrested and 200 litres of illicit brew seized in Tharaka Nithi county as security agencies intensify efforts to stamp out illegal alcohol production and distribution.

The early morning swoop, carried out on Saturday, July 4, in Iruri village, Maara subcounty, was led by officers from Magutuni police station.

According to a statement from the police, the suspects are currently in custody and will be arraigned once investigations are completed.

“200 litres of illicit brew were confiscated earlier today during an operation in Iruri village, Maara subcounty, Tharaka Nithi county,” the statement said, confirming the arrests.

“The operation, conducted by officers from Magutuni police station, is part of an ongoing national effort to curb the manufacture and sale of illicit alcohol and other illegal substances.”

This latest incident follows a series of coordinated crackdowns in the region, where illicit liquor has been blamed for rising cases of health complications, deaths, and a breakdown in social structures, particularly among the youth.

In recent months, authorities in Tharaka Nithi county, led by the county commissioner and county police commander, have spearheaded a multi-agency approach targeting brewers, distributors and vendors of outlawed alcoholic drinks.

Just last month, over 30 suspects were arrested in different parts of the country, with authorities seizing dozens of litres of chang’aa, busaa, and other unregulated spirits.

Several brewing dens, especially in Chuka and Igambang’ombe subcounties, were destroyed as part of the county’s sustained efforts to enforce national government directives on illicit alcohol.

The government recently launched a countrywide crackdown, particularly in Central and Eastern regions, where the illicit liquor menace had reached alarming levels.

County security teams have been urged to eliminate all illegal alcohol outlets and unlicensed manufacturers.

In Tharaka Nithi, the crackdown is set to continue in coming days, with police urging the public to report any suspicious activity linked to illegal brewing and consumption.