KRA Seizes Illicit Ethanol Worth Sh16.3m Near Nairobi SGR Corridor
News Updated: 10 January 2026 17:19 EAT
Some of the Illicit ethanol
Kenya Revenue Authority officers have intercepted 5,000 litres of suspected illicit ethanol near the Standard Gauge Railway corridor in Nairobi, dealing a blow to an operation believed to be supplying the illegal alcohol market.
The ethanol, valued at approximately Sh16.3 million, was discovered during a targeted enforcement operation along the busy transport corridor, an area authorities say is frequently exploited by smugglers due to its logistical significance.
KRA officials reported that the consignment was stored in large drums and lacked the mandatory customs and excise documentation required for lawful handling and distribution of industrial ethanol.
During the operation, officers also seized a vehicle suspected to have been used in transporting the illicit product. The vehicle is believed to be a key logistical asset in the operation and is now part of ongoing investigations.
Preliminary assessments indicate the ethanol could have been diverted for use in the manufacture of illegal or counterfeit alcoholic beverages, a practice that poses serious public health risks and undermines legitimate businesses.
KRA noted that, had the ethanol reached the market, the government stood to lose millions of shillings in unpaid excise duty and value-added tax, further straining revenue collection efforts.
The authority said the interception reflects heightened surveillance and intelligence-led enforcement along major transport routes, including rail and road corridors linking Nairobi to other parts of the country.
The seized ethanol and vehicle have been moved to a secure KRA facility as investigations continue, with enforcement agencies working to identify and dismantle the wider network behind the illicit operation.
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FELIX MAKONA
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