Police destroy 15K litres of illicit brew in Kayole crackdown
By Cynthia Lodite, August 13, 2025Police have destroyed at least 15,000 litres of illegal alcohol in the Soweto area of Kayole in a sustained effort to combat the sale and distribution of illegal alcohol in the country.
According to a report released by the National Police Service (NPS) on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, following an intensified crackdown on alcohol on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, the police carried out a successful raid on an illegal brewery in Soweto’s Duka Moja area, Kayole Sub-County.
“Police Intensify Crackdown on Illegal Alcohol in Soweto, Nairobi: On 12 August 2025, a multi-agency team in the Nairobi Region conducted a targeted operation against illicit alcohol in Soweto’s Duka Moja area, Kayole Sub-County,” NPS said.
Likewise, the police have noted that during the operation, officers destroyed approximately 15,000 litres of illicit brew found at the site. While further adding that the premises, believed to have been a key distribution point in the area, were permanently shut down just after a successful raid on Tuesday evening.
Notably, the police have stated that key persons of interest are on the run as the police pursue the persons behind the illegal operations, with further raids being planned to dismantle similar operation sites in Nairobi County.
“During the raid, officers destroyed around 15,000 litres of illicit brew and shut down the brewing den permanently. Authorities are actively pursuing the suspects behind the illegal operation, with further raids planned to dismantle similar networks across the county,” NPS said.
Worth noting, the crackdown is part of a wider government campaign targeting illegal alcohol and drug networks, which have been blamed for rising health concerns and social harm, particularly among the youth in informal settlements.
Authorities say they are actively pursuing suspects linked to the operation, and further raids are expected in the coming days as law enforcement intensifies efforts to dismantle similar brewing dens across Nairobi County.
Crackdown in Kasarani
The Soweto crackdownsparked just a day after National Police Service officers from the Nairobi Region conducted an intelligence-led operation on 11th August 2025 in Zimmerman, Kasarani Sub-County, targeting illicit brew (chang’aa) manufacturing dens.
At the time, more than 2,000 litres of kangara and chang’aa were seized and destroyed. The police have further revealed that the operation continues, with the aim of pursuing and apprehending the manufacturers and distributors of the illicit brew.
On the other hand, the National Police Service has reaffirmed its commitment to combating the manufacture, distribution, and use of illegal brews. The public is urged to support security operations by providing timely information to the police units.