Kayole crackdown: Police destroy over 100 litres of illicit brew
By Kenneth Mwenda, July 18, 2025Police in Nairobi’s Kayole Sub-County have destroyed over 100 litres of kangara following a multi-agency operation targeting illicit brew dens near Dandora Bridge, Mwengenye area.
In a statement shared on X on Friday, July 18, 2025, the National Police Service (NPS) confirmed that the operation was spearheaded by officers from Obama Police Station in collaboration with other government agencies.
The officers, on Thursday, July 17, 2025, raided multiple brewing sites along the Nairobi River, seizing brewing equipment and destroying more than ten 20-litre plastic jerricans used in the illegal production of the brew.
“On 17 July 2025, officers from Obama Police Station in Kayole Sub-County, Nairobi County, led a multi-agency operation targeting illicit brew dens in Mwengenye area near Dandora Bridge along the Nairobi River,” the NPS said.
“During the operation, over 100 litres of kangara (an illicit brew) and more than ten 20-litre plastic jerricans used in its production were destroyed on-site.”
No arrests were reported at the scene, but the police have launched investigations to identify and apprehend those behind the illegal operations.
Nationwide crackdown intensifies further
This raid is part of a wider nationwide crackdown on illicit alcohol and narcotics. Last month, police seized over 12,000 litres of kangara and chang’aa in Kisii County. The suspects in that case remain at large, but authorities say they are pursuing strong leads.
The NPS praised the public for its continued support and urged Kenyans to keep reporting suspicious activity.
“We call upon members of the public to remain vigilant and to report any information that can aid in stopping these dangerous practices,” read the statement. “Illicit brews not only endanger lives but also fuel other criminal activities in our neighbourhoods.”
The recent crackdown in Kayole follows similar operations in Kibera, Tharaka Nithi, and Narok, where police seized thousands of litres of illicit liquor and arrested suspects in connection with narcotics and illegal brewing.
As Kenya steps up its fight against harmful substances, the NPS has reiterated its zero-tolerance approach.