The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has intensified its crackdown on illicit alcohol trade in Kitui County, seizing counterfeit and suspected harmful alcoholic products worth an estimated KSh5 million during a multi-agency operation conducted on 3rd March 2026.
NACADA officials uncovered a series of violations that contravene the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, including the sale of counterfeit alcohol, possession of fake Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) documents, expired business licences, and operating premises located in close proximity to schools and places of worship.
The NACADA team, led by Deputy Director Cooperate Communications Simon Mwangi, confirmed that they recovered more than 900 cartons of alcoholic drinks bearing fake KRA stamps and over 250 crates of suspected harmful alcoholic beverages from one trader alone.“We have been conducting a multi-agency operation across Kitui County and successfully nabbed a distributor dealing in counterfeit alcohol within this area,” said Mwangi. “From one business person, we seized alcoholic products valued at approximately KSh5 million.”
Mwangi urged residents to cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspicious alcohol-related activities within their communities.“We request members of the public to remain alert and volunteer information regarding such illegal business activities for their own safety,” he said. “Consumers must also be vigilant about what they consume by verifying the authenticity and content of alcoholic products.”
NACADA issued a stern warning to individuals involved in the manufacture and distribution of illicit alcohol, stressing that penalties under the law are severe.“Those engaging in illegal alcohol trade must understand that once apprehended, they will face the consequences. We are committed to enforcing the law to the letter to protect the public,” Mwangi concluded.
The operation forms part of a broader national campaign aimed at curbing the proliferation of illicit and counterfeit alcohol across the country.
