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Person of interest arrested as police seize 395 litres of chang’aa
17th February, 2026 12:50 PM
A person of interest has been apprehended after police recovered 395 litres of an illicit brew during a targeted operation in Kisumu County.
In a statement shared on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, the National Police Service said the operation was carried out in the Maembe Tatu area of Nyalenda ‘B’ sub-location. The raid was conducted by a multi-agency team as part of ongoing efforts to curb the production, distribution and consumption of illegal alcohol in the region.
According to police, officers acted on intelligence before conducting a thorough search at a residential house in the area. During the search, they recovered 395 litres of a substance believed to be chang’aa. The brew had reportedly been hidden in unusual sections of the house in an attempt to avoid detection.
“Building on sustained efforts to curb the production, distribution, and consumption of illicit brews in Kisumu County, a multi-agency team conducted a targeted operation in the Maembe Tatu area of Nyalenda ‘B’ sub-location yesterday. Acting on intelligence, the team carried out a comprehensive search at a residence, leading to the recovery of an estimated 395 litres of a substance suspected to be chang’aa, which had been stashed in unusual sections of the house,” the statement read in part.
The individual linked to the premises was arrested at the scene and taken into police custody. Authorities said the person of interest is being held as investigations continue and will be arraigned in court once due process is complete.
Police noted that the crackdown forms part of a broader campaign to dismantle illicit alcohol networks that continue to pose a serious threat to public health and safety. The consumption of unregulated alcoholic drinks such as chang’aa has in the past led to cases of poisoning, hospitalisation and deaths in different parts of the country.
“The suspect was arrested at the scene and placed in police custody, pending arraignment in court. This operation underscores the continued commitment of the National Police Service to dismantling illicit alcohol networks and safeguarding public health and safety.”
