Prison Officer Arrested in Eldoret Over Suspected Distribution of Illicit Alcohol
“the officer was walking in handcuffs and had purported to be a police officer attached to Eldoret Central Police Station”
Some of the jerrycans filled with ethanol and other equipment confiscated by police during the crackdown on illicit distillation operations. File Photo
A prison officer attached to a Government of Kenya (GK) prison facility in Eldoret is in police custody following his arrest on Tuesday night over the suspected distribution of illicit alcohol.
The officer was allegedly found distributing what is believed to be ethanol using two unmarked vehicles. According to eyewitnesses, he was first spotted by a government officer who raised suspicion and alerted authorities.
Witnesses further reported that at the time of his arrest, the officer was walking in handcuffs and had purported to be a police officer attached to Eldoret Central Police Station. He was reportedly driving a Mazda CX-5 fitted with two different number plates—one bearing the vehicle’s original registration and another personalized plate marked “001”.
Police say the suspect attempted to resist arrest, prompting members of the public to intervene and assist officers in restraining him before he was taken into custody.
He is currently being held at Chepterit Police Station as investigations continue.
Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi confirmed the arrest, stating that a special investigations team has been dispatched to the station to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
“We have arrested a prison officer suspected to be involved in the distribution of illicit substances. An investigation team has been deployed to Chepterit Police Station to conduct thorough inquiries and determine the extent of his involvement,” Mwanthi said.
Sources close to the investigations allege that the officer is a major distributor of illicit alcohol within Eldoret. Police are also pursuing leads on three other unidentified individuals suspected to be distributing ethanol in Chepterit using high-end vehicles.
Reacting to the incident, human rights activist Kimutai Kirui condemned the alleged involvement of security officers in the illicit trade, saying the arrest had confirmed long-standing fears within the community.
“This confirms our worst fears—that some politicians and police officers are involved in the sale and distribution of illicit brews and drugs, effectively sabotaging the President’s commitment to end this menace,” Kirui said.
Kirui further claimed that officers who overstay at one station for extended periods often build networks with criminal elements, undermining law enforcement efforts.
“When officers remain stationed in one area for over ten years, they develop close ties with criminal networks. The National Police Service must urgently transfer officers who have overstayed to dismantle these illegal structures,” he added.
The arrest comes barely a week after police raided a high-end residence in Pioneer Estate, Eldoret, where thousands of litres of illicit alcohol were recovered in a major crackdown.
Security agencies say the incidents point to the existence of organized and well-funded networks involved in the manufacture and distribution of illegal alcohol within Eldoret and its surroundings.
The intensified enforcement drive follows President William Ruto’s firm warning against alcohol and drug abuse, which he has described as a major threat to public health, security, and economic productivity.
“Alcohol and drug abuse is destroying families and robbing our young people of their future. We will not spare anyone involved in this illegal trade, regardless of their position,” the President said during a recent public address.
Police in Uasin Gishu County have since intensified operations targeting illicit brews and narcotics, vowing to sustain the crackdown as part of the government’s broader efforts to curb substance abuse.
Members of the public have been urged to remain vigilant and continue cooperating with authorities by reporting suspicious activities, as police emphasize that community participation remains key in dismantling illicit alcohol and drug networks.
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