Enforcement officers from the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) have arrested two suspects and seized 640 bottles of suspected counterfeit spirits and 560 rolls of cannabis during a two-day intensified crackdown in Kitui County. The operations come as authorities remain on high alert during the Easter festivities and the April school holidays.
The first intervention occurred on April 2, 2026, at approximately 12:00 PM at Syongila Market. During the raid, NACADA officers intercepted a distributor in possession of 32 boxes of branded spirits. Each box contained 20 bottles of 250ml capacity, totaling 640 pieces of suspected illicit alcohol. The suspect was processed and booked at the Kitui Police Station, while the products were held pending a detailed forensic and chemical analysis to determine their contents.
A second, more extensive operation unfolded on April 3, 2026, at approximately 7:30 PM at the Mtu wa Ngombe Market within the Kyanundu Shopping Centre in Mwingi. This multi-agency raid was led by NACADA and supported by National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) from the Kisama and Mwingi Central sub-locations.
The team apprehended a suspected notorious distributor of cannabis sativa, whom authorities believe has been a primary supplier to local youth and school-going children. Following the initial arrest, the suspect led officers to a residential property in Kirita Village. A subsequent search of the premises uncovered 560 rolls of suspected cannabis, eight rolling papers, and 66 sachets of cannabis seeds. Officers also recovered a dagger, a police smoke jacket, and Ksh6,650 in cash, which is suspected to be proceeds from the illegal trade.
NACADA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Anthony Omerikwa stated that the Authority has scaled up its surveillance nationwide to coincide with the holiday season. He noted that the transition from the school term to the holidays often creates a window of vulnerability for young people.
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“We are fully aware that traffickers see this holiday as a prime window to target our young people. Multi-agency operations have been heightened across the country,” Dr. Omerikwa stated. He further emphasized that the Authority is strictly implementing recent presidential directives aimed at eradicating the menace of drug and alcohol abuse in Kenya.
The suspect from the Mwingi operation is currently being held at the Mwingi Police Station and is expected to be arraigned at the Mwingi Law Courts to face charges related to the possession and distribution of narcotics.
These recent seizures in Kitui and Mwingi reflect a broader trend of increased enforcement across the Eastern region. Local administrators have warned that the sale of counterfeit alcohol poses a significant public health risk, often leading to blindness or death due to the inclusion of industrial chemicals.
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NACADA has reiterated its call for members of the public to report suspicious activities within their neighborhoods. The Authority maintains that community-led intelligence remains the most effective tool in dismantling local distribution networks and protecting the “human capital” of the nation during sensitive holiday periods.
