Kennedy Angwen, the proprietor of Mamboleo Distillers in Kisumu County has been dealt a blow after the plant failed to pass the vetting process in the renewed fight against illicit alcohol.
The now suspended firm has been in the news before over allegations of illicit alcohol manufacturing and was partly covered by Kenya Insights, however, Mr. Angwen commands so much power that he has evaded all drug nets in the past years and continued with his controversial trade. He’s said to have oiled well the security machinery in the region that he operates without worries and with ultimate impunity.
KRA officers assaulted
In August 2022 during a raid by Kenya Revenue Authority, officers were assaulted after impounding illicit brews worth millions in Mamboleo, Kisumu East subcounty. The agents were reportedly assaulted by the businessman.
To show the levels of impunity, the KRA agents were alleged to have been attacked by the businessman and goons in the presence of police officers from the Mamboleo police post.
Police officers who were allegedly at the scene of incident where KRA officers were assaulted after impounding illicit brews in Mamboleo.
To demonstrate further how powerful the businessman was, the then Kisumu East subcounty police commander James Musyimi denied knowledge of the incident and brushed it off saying he was engaged elsewhere in post election violence.
Da Place Lounge
The KRA officials sustained injuries and were treated and discharged at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital.
The officers said they were acting on a tip off over the production and ferrying of illicit alcohol in Mamboleo area in Kisumu East subcounty.
One of the officers said the businessman who owns the Mamboleo distiller plant, was producing alcohol illegally despite being closed the previous year (2021) when the license was revoked in April.
They impounded a lorry and a pick-up ferrying 800 and 210 cartons of Shakers Vodka, illicit brew respectively.
The alcohol which were fixed with KRA excise stamps are valued at Sh4 million inclusive of tax evasion.
The alcohol impounded by KRA officials in Kisumu before being forced to release the products on Monday. The alcohol were reportedly fixed with fake KRA excise stamps.
The officers claimed police officers sided with the businessman. They were shocked that they could be assaulted and obstructed in the line of duty without any action by the present officers. They were forced to release the impounded alcohol. That’s how powerful the business was.
Ken also owns Da Place Club in Kisumu which hosts the popular Kikao Show. There have also been accusations that the club is supplied with same questionable merchandise. Some customers have lodged intoxication complaints against the club.
Kindiki wrath
Following a multi-agency vetting process of second-generation alcohol manufacturers and distillers across the country, championed by the Ministry of Interior, Mamboleo Distillers is amongst the 24 companies that have failed to meet the threshold and remain suspended.
Worse still is that the plant is in the residential area and surrounded with schools.
In a communique, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, the licenses and permits of twenty-four (24) other entities remain suspended until they are fully compliant.
They have been given 21 days effective April 8, to ensure they meet all the set regulations, “failure to which the licenses, permits, and authorizations shall stand revoked.”
On March 6, Kindiki announced a 25-point enforcement program meant to suppress the manufacture, sale, distribution, and consumption of illegal alcohol and narcotics in the country.
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