Gov't to Introduce New Laws to Seize Assets of Illicit Alcohol Cartels

The government is finalising new laws targeting manufacturers, distributors and individuals enabling illicit alcohol and drug cartels.

In a statement on Wednesday, October 21, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said the legislative proposals were aimed at dismantling criminal networks involved in supplying dangerous, chemical-laced alcoholic drinks to members of the public.

Providing an update on the crackdown, Kindiki said authorities had recorded numerous successful operations in the past 10 days.

"During the last 10 days, intelligence led multi agency operations have made 9 successful illicit ethanol raids and 116 other raids on illicit brews made without following public health and quality standards," he wrote.

Kindiki said the government had finalised proposals to strengthen the legal framework governing the manufacture and distribution of illicit alcohol.

"The Government has finalised legislative proposals that will tighten the noose on manufacturers, distributors and enablers of ethanol and drug cartels that are supplying dangerous chemical-laced alcoholic drinks to members of the public," he added.

Kindiki noted that the government was strengthening coordination among regulatory and enforcement agencies while preparing to involve local communities more directly in efforts to eliminate illicit alcohol.

"Coordination among regulatory and enforcement agencies has been enhanced, and a framework of engaging local communities in this fight is set to be released next week," he further said.

Kindiki also announced the establishment of a permanent coordination mechanism bringing together state agencies and the national government to improve the response to illicit alcohol and drug trafficking.

"A permanent coordinating mechanism bringing together all agencies of the State and national government has been established at Harambee House Annex," he stated.

Under the proposed legal framework, the government intends to target the financial resources supporting illicit alcohol and drug cartels by forfeiting assets and confiscating funds intercepted from their networks.

Kindiki said the proceeds recovered through the measures would be directed towards rehabilitating people struggling with addiction.

"Law on forfeiture, asset seizure and confiscation of funds intercepted from cartel networks in the illicit alcohol and drug business is being finalised, to disable, dismantle and paralyse the networks and their economic wherewithal, the proceeds of such assets and funds to go towards rehabilitation of addicts," he explained.

At the same time, traditional brews that comply with the requirements of the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) will be formalised and licensed.

This comes weeks after the government cancelled the licences of eight manufacturers of second-generation alcohol as part of an intensified crackdown on illicit alcohol and narcotic drug cartels.

In a statement on Wednesday, October 7, Kindiki said the government had escalated enforcement against criminal networks involved in the production and distribution of illicit alcohol, with intelligence-led operations being coordinated through a multi-agency command.

"The Government has stepped up the war against cartels involved in illicit alcohol and narcotic drugs. Ruthless enforcement through covert intelligence operations will continue, under centralized multi agency command," he wrote.

Kindiki said the eight manufacturers were among 36 second-generation alcohol manufacturers whose licences had been suspended in 2024 over non-compliance with public health, environmental, security and quality regulations.

"Out of the 36 manufacturers of second generation alcohol whose licenses had been suspended in 2024 for non-compliance with public health, environment, security and quality regulations, 8 of them have been cancelled while the 26 that subsequently complied are going to be re-inspected afresh with immediate effect," he added.

Kindiki said the government had also established a high-level team to oversee enforcement efforts and work with stakeholders in tackling illicit alcohol and drug cartels.

"A Multi Sectoral High Level Team has been established to be chaired by the Deputy President every two weeks to work with all stakeholders including industry representatives and local communities to monitor enforcement and to help in identifying criminal cartels and also assist to rehabilitate the victims of crime associated with illicit alcohol and drug cartels," he further said.