Security officers in Mlolongo, Machakos, on Thursday, September 29, destroyed over 5,000 litres of illicit brew, also known as kangara, at Kinanie area.
One suspect was arrested in the sting operation led by the Sub-county security committee on Thursday mid-morning.
The liquor said to be prepared using cow dung and sewage water, was contained in 24 different drums with 210 litres each translating to 5,040 litres.
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It was recovered after a joint operation by the Mlolongo Assistant Commissioner Dennis Onganga, area chiefs in collaboration with the Nyumba Kumi initiative in Ngelani, Kinanie opposite River Athi.
A middle-aged woman who has been on the wanted list for a long time managed to escape arrest during the operation.
Mlolongo police pursuing brewer
The authorities confirmed that police are pursuing the woman.
The Kangara brewer is reported to have moved to Kinanie recently from Nairobi where a similar raid was conducted. She is said to have escaped the police dragnet during a raid on her house in Mukuru Kwa Njenga.
"We have been receiving intelligence that a woman has been producing the illicit brew and we have been looking for her although she managed to escape. But we have destroyed over 24 drums containing 5,040 litres of liquor," Onganga confirmed.
Onganga said the arrested suspect was found with 10 litres of chang'aa.
According to Onganga, the suspect has been conducting illegal business in the bush along River Athi where the brew which is not fit for human consumption was being produced.
The officers also recovered 10 kilograms of ammonium chloride in a 25 kg bag suspected to have been used in the preparation of the illicit brew.
The security officers also found packets of cow dung inside the illicit brew. The security officers believe the substance is used to achieve quick fermentation of the liquor.
Several tanks containing sewage water were also recovered.
Onganga vowed to intensify the operation to eliminate the production and consumption of illicit brew in the region.
"I urge the locals to avoid taking the illicit brew which is being prepared in River Athi where there is flooded sewage channelled from the neighbouring apartments. It is not fit for human consumption," Onganga warned.
"I put on notice all illicit brewers from Nairobi County slums that they will not find resting places or market on Athiriver Sub-county. My chiefs and their assistants will continue with daily crackdowns to ensure all are wiped and put behind bars," he said.
