How Nakuru's Nyamarutu village wiped out illicit brews, created safe haven

Nyamarutu village in Nakuru East sub-County is one of the few places where alcoholism and crime are not tolerated.

For years, the village had been plagued by the brewing and sale of illicit brews, which wreaked havoc on the social, health and economic well-being of its residents.

But for Martha Waruguru, standing against the menace came at a personal cost. She lost her home and marriage.

When she appeared on national television condemning the illicit brew and the destruction it had caused, her husband of five years was furious.

That night, he kicked her out of their matrimonial home accusing her of shaming men.

But even as she left, Martha held her head high, knowing she had done the right thing.

Despite the pain of losing her home, she remains proud of what the village has achieved.

"Before the ban, people were drinking and fighting all the time. You couldn’t leave your house without fear of being robbed. But now, we live in peace," she said.

Like many others, Waruguru lost a loved one to illicit brews.

Her cousin, a young man full of potential became an addict and was unable to hold any job.

"He drank himself to death. As women, we were badly affected. Our partners neglected us, children suffered and crime was rampant. But today, I’m happy that the vice has been eradicated from our community,” she says proudly.

But Nyamarutu’s transformation didn’t happen overnight.

For many years, this quiet village was plagued by the production and sale of illicit brews, a trade that wreaked havoc on the social, health and economic well-being of its residents.

Alcohol dens operated in the open and the community bore the devastating effects with families torn apart, productivity plummeting and crime skyrocketing.

Like in many parts of Nakuru, residents long endured the effects of toxic unregulated alcohol with frequent reports of blindness and even death from consuming contaminated drinks. Nyamarutu was no exception.

The availability of cheap alcohol lured many, especially the youth, into addiction with each passing year the situation worsened. Locals say they felt helpless and law enforcement interventions were sporadic as many suspected the involvement of corrupt police officers who protected the brewers.

And so faced with a crisis, Nyamarutu residents decided that enough was enough.

In a bold and determined move, they turned to the Nyumba Kumi initiative, a local security system designed to enhance community policing.

The Nyumba Kumi elders took the lead in the campaign to eliminate the illicit brew trade.

According to Nyumba Kumi chairman John Ndirangu, the decision to ban illicit brewing was made in 2016, but it took three years of relentless effort to fully eradicate it.

“The brewers had deep connections with police officers. They would be arrested, but within no time, they were back in business. We knew that if we were to succeed, we had to take matters into our own hands,” Mr Ndirangu says.

The fight began with community sensitisation meetings in public barazas where residents were educated on the dangers of illicit brews. The elders emphasised the need for unity in tackling the problem.

Fortunately, they received support from local authorities, which strengthened their cause.

“We lost so many young people to this menace. Every year, three to four young men died due to excessive consumption of illicit alcohol. Families were breaking apart. That is why we came together to stop it,” he explained.

The Nyumba Kumi team organised frequent patrols, identifying brewing dens and reporting them to authorities for immediate action.

However, the crackdown on illicit brews was met with strong resistance. Brewers who had operated for years felt entitled to their trade and refused to back down. Some turned violent, threatening those who opposed them.

Mr Ndirangu recalled how some villagers were attacked during night patrols.

“We knew the risks, but we were determined. Some of us received threats, but we refused to be intimidated,” he says.

Even as the crackdown intensified, some addicts were so desperate for alcohol that they travelled to neighbouring villages like Kanyon and Mchanganyiko to find brews. But Nyamarutu residents held their ground ensuring that no illicit alcohol would ever be sold in their village again.

Seven years later, the results are evident as Nyamarutu has enjoyed peace, with crime rates dropping significantly.

Ms Margaret Njeri, who has lived in Nyamarutu for over 40 years, remembers when the village was notorious for alcohol abuse and school dropouts.

“No child went past Form Two. The few who did often dropped out because they saw their fathers drunk every day,” she says.

With the illicit brews gone, the village has seen a remarkable transformation.

Crime has dropped, businesses are thriving, and families are rebuilding their lives.

The village has also invested in youth programs to prevent relapse. Sports tournaments keep young people engaged, while mentorship initiatives help them stay on the right path.

According to area Assistant Chief Henry Chege, the fight against illicit brews succeeded because the community was actively involved.

To ensure no brewing dens were overlooked, the village was divided into smaller units, each led by a Nyumba Kumi official. These teams identified where brews were being made and reported them to authorities.

“The brewers had mastered the art of evasion. They would shift their businesses from one place to another, mostly brewing at night. But we worked closely with police to raid these places and arrest those involved” he said.

The strategy worked.

Between 2016 and 2019, crime rates in Nyamarutu dropped by 40 percent according to statistics from the security department.

“I can’t even remember the last time we had to conduct a patrol due to illicit brews. We may not have an official certification declaring us a ‘brew-free village,’ but anyone who lives here knows that we no longer have that problem,” the assistant chief added.

According to Nakuru East sub-County Police Commander Mohammed Wako, police used to arrest at least seven illicit brewers every week before the crackdown.

But as community efforts intensified, arrests dwindled.

“This was one of the toughest crackdowns we have ever conducted. But thanks to the cooperation of Nyamarutu residents, we managed to end the menace,” he said.

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