This archive report was first published on 18 September 2019.
On January 2019, Thika-based African Spirits Limited, owned by city tycoon Humphrey Kariuki, was closed down and declared a crime scene, with a 24-hour police protection unit assigned to guard the premises.
However, the company's management has now accused the police officers of misusing their unrestricted access to the factory to loot and steal.
According to a company director who preferred anonymity, the police have been stealing not only alcoholic drinks but also raw materials used in the manufacturing of liquor and vehicle parts.
“Being a crime scene, it is quite difficult to quantify the value of the property that has so far been stolen. Since the police took over the premises, they are the ones who have been camping here and so if anything goes missing, they should be held responsible,” he alleged.
The director claimed that the company had lost raw spirit used to manufacture alcohol, TV sets, and gas cylinders so far.
Thika Sub-County Police Commander Beatrice Kiraguri, however, denied any knowledge of the alleged theft, questioning how the company management had come to know that there were some things that had been stolen since no one was allowed access into the premises apart from the police.
