No let up in war on illegal liquor

The crackdown on illicit alcohol continued on Tuesday with a Nakuru MCA landing in hospital after he was beaten up by police officers as he led a raid.

Nakuru Town East Rep Humphrey Mwaniki was attacked at Pipeline on Monday after he and a group of residents stormed a wines and spirits shop.

“We were destroying alcohol in a shop belonging to a police officer when three of his colleagues attacked me,” he said.

In Naivasha, a team led by area MP John Kihagi inspected the multi-billion shilling Keroche Breweries.

“We have nothing to hide … we are in full support of the fight against illicit drinks,” said Keroche CEO Tabitha Karanja.

In Nyahururu, liquor addicts sifted through heaps of destroyed bottles hoping to find a few that might have survived. Any find was met with loud celebrations.

In Samburu, more than 30,000 litres of alcohol were destroyed and 46 people arrested, while in Kiambu, an MCA, Mr Martin Wachira, was arrested after illegal liquor was found hidden in his house.

In Mbita, a factory said to have been supplying chang’aa to Kisumu, Nairobi and Mombasa, was destroyed. Investigations showed the factory, run by a women’s group, had been enjoying protection from the provincial administration.

INSISTED ON PROOF

Elsewhere, a judge declined to grant brewers protection against illegal liquor raids until they proved they were properly registered.

In a Nairobi court on Tuesday, Justice Isaac Lenaola refused to heed the Association of Spirits Manufacturers’ request for protection pending the hearing and determination of a case in which they have sued the Interior Cabinet Secretary, Attorney-General, Inspector-General of Police and Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu.

And despite a sworn affidavit by the group’s organising secretary, Mr Robert Kanogo, that the raids led by Mr Waititu were unlawful, the judge insisted on proof of its membership.

“I cannot secure an organisation which does not exist. Bring your licence and a list of your members tomorrow. You have to convince me that your organisation exists and that you are registered to manufacture the said drinks,” said Justice Lenaola.

Mr Waititu told the court the group had not named its officials, produced official documents or presented certification to prove its credibility.

The MP said at least six companies whose certificates of incorporation were attached to the case documents were not listed as members of the association while another six could not prove their existence.

Mr Waititu denied accusations that he led hooligans in storming and looting from licensed bars and retail outlets in Wangigi on June 27.

The association members, through lawyer Karugu Muguku, claim law enforcement agencies tolerated and supervised the looting and destruction of property. They want compensation and an order that the blanket condemnation, as well as arbitrary revocation of their licences to manufacture and distribute alcoholic products, is illegal.

Reported by Maurice Kaluoch, Eric Wainaina, Winnie Atieno, Magdalene Wanja, Macharia Mwangi, David Macharia and Johnstone Keti