This archive report was first published on 26 August 2019.
On Sunday, police in Litein, Kenya, arrested a 13-year-old girl for selling chang'aa, a local illicit brew. The girl was found with 97 litres of chang'aa and Sh47,000 in cash, believed to be proceeds from the illegal alcohol trade.
According to Bureti OCPD Felicia Nafula, the girl is a Standard Seven pupil at a local school. Nafula also stated that police were looking for the girl's father, who is said to be a notorious chang'aa brewer. He escaped when his daughter was arrested.
Police also arrested two other people who were found drinking chang'aa at their house. A 50-litre jerrycan containing chang'aa was recovered from outside the house, which had been buried.
Between January and May, the county government reported that 4,537 litres of chang'aa, 51,243 litres of Kang'ara, and 27,589 litres of busaa have been impounded. Kericho County Commissioner Moses Mbaruku stated that the war against brewing and consumption of illicit alcohol has gained momentum in the county.
Between January and May, 770 people have been arrested for selling illicit brews. The suspects have been taken to court and were fined a total of Sh3 million for possessing 1,512 litres of chang'aa, 2,642 litres of Kang'ara, and 3,657 litres of busaa.
