The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has seized more than 4,000 counterfeit alcoholic products in a major crackdown in Kayole, Nairobi.
The operation, conducted on Wednesday afternoon, targeted a suspected distribution hub in the area and resulted in the seizure of more than 250 cartons of assorted counterfeit alcoholic drinks.
Two suspects were arrested during the raid and are being held at Jogoo Road Police Station. They are expected to be arraigned in court on Thursday.
The operation was conducted by a multi-agency team comprising officers from NACADA, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), the National Police Service (NPS) and the National Gang Prevention Unit (NGAPU).
NACADA said the coordinated operation was part of ongoing efforts to disrupt the supply chains involved in the distribution of counterfeit and illicit alcohol.
The authority said the products seized pose serious health risks to consumers, while the latest operation demonstrates the government's continued focus on tackling the illegal alcohol trade through intelligence-led enforcement.
The Kayole raid comes after similar operations in Eastleigh, Jericho, Mukuru Kwa Njenga and South B, where hundreds of counterfeit alcoholic beverages and narcotics were recovered.
NACADA Chief Executive Officer Dr Anthony Omerikwa thanked members of the public for providing information that has helped enforcement agencies identify and disrupt illegal alcohol operations.
“I thank the public for continuing to volunteer valuable and actionable intelligence on unlawful alcohol counterfeiting activities within our neighbourhoods, which continue to yield positive results,” Omerikwa said.
He said the government remained committed to addressing alcohol and drug abuse and warned those involved in the illegal trade that enforcement action would continue.
“The President has been very clear on the government's stand on the fight against alcohol and drug abuse, and the Authority will continue to pursue all those involved in putting communities in harm's way while undertaking their illegal activities,” he said.
Omerikwa said the crackdown was not limited to enforcement, noting that NACADA was also pursuing community-based rehabilitation programmes for people affected by substance use dependence.
He said the authority's approach combines supply suppression with prevention, treatment and reintegration.
NACADA has previously unveiled a Community-Based Rehabilitation Framework for Substance Use Disorders, which prioritises prevention, treatment and reintegration alongside enforcement.
The authority said the two suspects arrested in Kayole would face the law as investigations continue. Omerikwa urged Kenyans to continue providing information on counterfeit and illicit alcohol activities through NACADA's official social media platforms or its free helpline, 1192.
He assured members of the public that information provided would be treated with confidentiality and acted upon promptly. NACADA said the crackdown would continue in other high-risk areas as part of its sustained campaign against counterfeit alcohol and narcotics.