2 arrested after trying to escape police in Malaba, ethanol recovered
By Cynthia Lodite, September 23, 2025Police from Malaba in Busia County have apprehended two persons of interest linked to a huge haul of ethanol and illegal substances used to brew changa’aa, an illicit brew in Kenya.
In a report on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, the Rift Valley Police Commander Issa Muhammud said the key persons of interest were trying to escape a police roadblock laid out along Malaba Road in Busia County.
The police boss further added that two were busted after the car they were travelling in lost control, hence rolling over into a ditch.
According to the police commander, upon intercepting the vehicle, they recovered at least 50 jerrycans of ethanol, each containing at least 30 litres of the illegal substance, which amounted to 1,500 litres.
“We were able to recover 50 jerrycans, each containing 30 litres. That is about 1,500 litres of suspected ethanol. You know what ethanol does and how it is being used and abused,” he stated.
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Police further revealed that the two persons of interest were slightly injured because, during the chase, they were sandwiched between lorries along the Malaba road.
“So, upon inspection, that’s what we recovered, and the two suspects were slightly injured because during the chase, you know, they were sandwiched in between the lorries, the trucks of Malaba,” Issa said.
The police swiftly rescued the two, who, according to the police commander, had landed in a ditch.
“With so many trucks on that road, they were sandwiched between the trucks, and the driver lost control; hence, he landed in a ditch, but we rescued them,” the officer noted.
The police commander has announced that the two were taken to the hospital and were later discharged, and investigations have kicked off.
“They were injured; we took them to the hospital, where they were treated and discharged this morning, and the investigation is ongoing,” he said.
Police nab woman in Nyamira
In a similar incident, police in Nyamira County arrested a woman and seized a large consignment of illicit brew following a raid on Sunday, September 21, 2025.
In a statement by the National Police Service (NPS), the operation was carried out by officers from Keroka Police Station after receiving a tip-off from members of the public.
Acting on the information, police raided a homestead in Ichuni Sub-Location, where they found 500 litres of Chang’aa and an additional 20 litres of Kangara, a key ingredient used in brewing the illicit liquor.