A multi-agency team has seized and destroyed more than 1,000 litre’s of kangara, a substance used in producing illicit liquor, during a raid along Katine River in Matungulu Sub County in Machakos county.
The brewing dens between Katine and Ngomeni villages were targeted in an operation involving the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), the Administration Police Rapid Deployment Unit, Nyumba Kumi officials and local residents.
According to NACADA Principal Reinforcement Officer John Simiyu, the raid operation followed the complaints by the local residents about the brewing of illicit brews in the area.
The officers recovered three metallic drums, one plastic drum and 20 plastic jerricans, each with a capacity of 20 litres, which had been buried on farms.
The suspects involved in the case escaped before they were arrested. However, Simiyu said that they will continue with investigations and operations in the area in order to ensure that all the criminals are brought to book.
Local residents accused the illicit liquor brewers of polluting Katine river, arguing that water from the river was essential for domestic purposes and farming activities.
According to Lucas Ngila, who is a resident in Katine, the condition of the river had worsened as a result of increase in brewing activities along the river’s banks.
Thomas Kindivyo, a farmer who owns land next to the river complained about how the contamination of the river has interfered with farming activities in his farm. He added that the consumption of illicit liquor has affected the community in such a manner that it has contributed to more than six men in the area over the past two months.
Boniface Nguku, a resident in the area pointed out on school going children who abandon their education in order to seek income from the illicit brewing business which makes them exposed to drug abuse at a young age.
Local residents called on the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to take the necessary action on the issue about pollution of the Katine river in a bid to restore its usefulness in domestic and farm activities.
APERIT FM, HII NI YETU
