Two people arrested, over 1000 litres of illicit brew netted

Two people have been arrested and over 1,000 liters of illicit brew confiscated in a crackdown in Siaya County.

The operation was carried out at Uhanya and Anyuongi areas in Bondo Sub County.

In the first incident officers from Usenge police station conducted arrested 32-year-old Sophia Odhiambo at Uhanya, seizing 20 liters of chang'aa.

In a separate operation at Anyuongi area, officers from Bondo police station confiscated 1,000 liters of ‘kangara’, which is one of the ingredients used in manufacturing chang'aa.

The operation was conducted at a changaa den in Anyuongi. The owner escaped the police dragnet.

 Siaya County Police Commander Cleti Kimaiyo said those arrested will be arraigned once investigations are complete.

In January this year, the Siaya Magistrate’s Court ruled that being in possession of ‘kangara’ is not a crime and subsequently freed a woman who had been arrested after she was found in possession of 80 liters of the substance in Gem, Yala sub-county.

Magistrate Jacob Mkala however stated that in as much as ‘kangara’ is an ingredient of making chang’aa, it is not an illegal commodity in itself, thereby setting free the suspect, Petronila Ayuma.