Drama as Locals Block Chang'aa Brewer From Being Arrested, Stone Police

A standoff ensued at a village in Trans Nzoial county after attempts by police to arrest a Chang'aa brewer turned chaotic.

DCI boss George Kinot said the security officers were on Saturday met with resistance from villagers who were alerted by the wife of a man whose homestead sell the liquor.

This is after the two sensed a looming arrest.

Drunkards and villagers are said to have arrived at the homestead after the summon and told off the police from arresting the woman.

The woman is said to be a darling of Bwake Village locals owing to her unbeatable skills in preparing the local brew in the area.

"Determined to arrest the notorious brewer, the officers had stormed Bwake village and headed straight to Mulati’s homestead, their eyes trained on Mulati’s wife. Her proficiency in brewing the most potent local brew is unparalleled and Bwake villagers were willing to pay the ultimate price in protecting her, as the officers would later learn," DCI boss Kinoti.

Shockingly, a group of locals who were enjoying the drink were unmoved by the police presence and continued to imbibe the drink unperturbed.

Mulati's wife is said to have gone berserk and fired salvos at the officers who were set to arrest her.

"Others took vantage positions in the compound and challenged the officers to a duel, as they gathered rocks and other projectiles," DCI said.

"Along the banks of a stream in the backyard, drums of boiling froth sat precariously on improvised jikos as pipes immersed in the stream poured droplets of the distilled substance into 20-litre jerrycans. Two connoisseurs who tested the potency of the final product stood guard, holding half-burnt wood. "

The local brew set-up is said to have been well organized though the distilling plant used is of ancient times.

After the sergeant in charge of the operation ordered the arrest of the brewer and her husband, they were met with a hail of stones and other projectiles that came falling on the officers forcing them to retreat.

"They had to fire several rounds in the air to scare away the crowd that was baying for their blood. Two of them suffered serious injuries and were referred to Kitale referral hospital for specialized treatment," DCI said.

A well-coordinated operation in response to the Saturday incident is ongoing.