Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has raised alarm over the rise of second-generation alcohol and adulterated ethanol in the Mt. Kenya region, saying authorities are intensifying efforts to root out the problem.

Speaking in Nyeri County on Thursday during a Jukwaa La Usalama forum, Murkomen revealed that at least five businessmen in the region have been linked to the illicit trade, with one already in custody.

“It is perpetrated by not more than five businessmen in court. They call them businessmen, but they are in fact smugglers of adulterated ethanol. Last night, one of them was arrested in a sting operation carried out by a Nairobi-based team working with our local security officers,” he said.

According to the CS, the perpetrators use Laikipia County as a haven, transporting illegal ethanol to Nanyuki whenever police operations close in on them.

Murkomen emphasized that the State is determined to arrest all those involved, noting that a national multi-agency team has been set up to tackle the vice.

"We have agreed at the security meeting with the IG and the CEO NACADA that we are going to establish a special multi-agency team that will include KEBS, KRA, among other agencies to work together to ensure compliance," revealed the CS.

He said the Multi-Agency Team will be coordinated from Nairobi.

"Where we feel the need to reinforce, the national team will be called in to support this issue of alcohol in our country," said the CS.