Illegal brewers and their customers in some parts of Tharaka Nithi County have devised new ways of thwarting a crackdown launched by Governor Muthomi Njuki.
Addressing the media in Chuka town on Friday, Governor Njuki said some crafty brewers have now relocated from their homes to rivers and hills where they are going on with the illegal trade to avoid arrest.
He said others are packaging the illicit brew in nylon papers and hawking them in areas where one can least suspect while others are bottling in containers for legal brands.
Njuki added that other brewers are putting containers containing brew in sacks and hanging them on top of leafy trees to avoid security officers tracing them during the crackdown.
“The illicit brewers and their customers have now devised means to beat the law by engaging in some very weird behaviors,” said Governor Njuki.
In a most dangerous move, some brewers are transporting brew using knapsack sprayers to avoid suspicion by security agencies or even members of the public.
The county boss also pointed out that some bar operators are selling beer during the wrong hours through back doors and warned that they risk their licenses being revoked and arraigned in court.
He announced the cancellation of the license belonging to Palace Inn Bar in Marimanti town in Tharaka South Sub County for reportedly selling the wrong hours.
On a positive note, the county chief lauded Kithino area administration in Chiakariga Sub County for relentlessly fighting illicit brew and emerging the winner.
County Commissioner Wesley Koech assured tight collaboration by the two levels of government in slaying the alcoholism dragon.
He noted that all security and administration officers have a responsibility of sustaining the fight to ensure an illicit-free county.
“The national and county government administration and enforcement officers will work together to ensure the county is sober,” said Mr Koech.
