Mike Power: NACADA Launches Manhunt for Suspect Operating 59 Illegal Alcohol Joints in Murang'a
- Kahuho Market was turned into a crime scene after NACADA and Murang’a police raided a store and seized counterfeit alcohol valued at KSh 1.4 million
- The swoop, part of a 100-day government crackdown on illicit brews, led officers to 290 crates of drinks bearing fake tax stamps from popular brands
- Authorities linked the stash to Peter Nduati, alias “Mike Power,” a feared trader accused of running at least 59 outlets and evading arrest for years
- While the fugitive was not found, police arrested his store manager as agencies launched deeper investigations into the empire
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Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Murang’a - Kahuho Market turned into a crime scene after a high-level operation by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) and Murang’a Police Command.
Source: UGC
In the raid conducted the night before Jukwaa la Usalama Murang’a County edition, the officers uncovered a cache of counterfeit liquor worth KSh 1.4 million.
The swoop, staged at around 8pm, was part of a wider 100-day Rapid Result Initiative (RRI) against illicit alcohol directed by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.
Acting on intelligence reports, officers stormed a store in the busy market centre and seized 290 crates of assorted alcoholic beverages.
The drinks, which included popular brands like Smart Ice, Taifa Ice, Diamond Ice, and Apple Ice, bore fake Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) stamps. Several cartons of Dallas Gin spirits were also confiscated.
Officials later linked the store to Peter Nduati, better known in Murang’a as "Mike Power," a notorious trader who has allegedly built an empire out of the illegal alcohol business.
How has Mike Power evaded arrest?
NACADA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Anthony Omerikwa described the suspect as a powerful figure in the region’s illicit trade, noting that his grip extends across dozens of outlets.
"This is not a small-time player. He is a well-known figure whose business empire thrives on illegality, and his continued evasion of the law underscores the scale of the challenge we face," Omerikwa said.
Investigations have established that Nduati allegedly owns at least 59 alcohol dispensing outlets spread across Murang’a county.
His establishments have allegedly operated with little regard for existing regulations, often managing to stay a step ahead of law enforcement agencies.
While “Mike Power” was not present during the raid, authorities apprehended a woman believed to be his store manager.
She is being held at Kahuho Police Station as investigations continue, with police saying her testimony will be crucial in tightening the net around the fugitive businessman.
Source: Facebook
The seized consignment has been handed over to KRA’s Investigations Team, which is examining the scale of tax evasion involved.
Samples of the drinks will also undergo detailed analysis at the Government Chemist and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to establish their chemical composition and safety for human consumption.
NACADA has pledged to intensify its surveillance in Murang’a and other hotspots, warning traders who thrive on counterfeit brews that their days are numbered.
The agency stressed that it will continue working with police, KRA, KEBS, and other partners to dismantle illegal supply chains.
How did NACADA arrest suspect targeting children?
Earlier, NACADA agents executed a late-night raid in Bondeni, Nakuru, targeting a suspected drug network exploiting children.
They arrested a woman and seized bhang rolls and sweet cookies laced with bhang, reportedly packaged for minors.
Intelligence suggested the operation was linked to a ring allegedly led by her husband.
NACADA’s leadership condemned the disturbing tactic of using edibles to entrap young people and pledged relentless pursuit of all accomplices.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
