A Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) security guard has been charged over the alleged theft of more than 1.8 million sticks of seized cigarettes valued at Ksh22.7 million from a government warehouse in Eldoret.
The suspect was accused of breaking into a KRA warehouse and stealing 1,860,520 sticks of uncustomed Supermatch cigarettes valued at Ksh22,780,542.
The cigarettes had previously been seized by the tax authority and deposited at the warehouse.
According to KRA, the guard was also charged with an alternative count of negligence to prevent a felony. He was arrested by immigration officers at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) while attempting to travel to Qatar.
His arrest followed the enforcement of a Departure Prohibition Order that restricted him from leaving the country.
The suspect was subsequently presented before Eldoret Senior Principal Magistrate Maureen Kesse, where he denied the charges.
The prosecution opposed his release on bond, arguing that he was a flight risk. The court subsequently denied him bond. If convicted, the suspect faces imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years.
In a separate case, a woman has been charged at the Kabarnet Law Courts with possession of 262.5 litres of undiluted undenatured ethanol and eight litres of diluted undenatured ethanol.
KRA said the undenatured ethanol had a tax implication of Ksh362,223.
The accused, who was jointly charged with another person who was not before the court, faced charges relating to possession of restricted goods contrary to the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004.
She was also charged with handling excisable goods without a licence under the Excise Duty Act. The woman appeared before Magistrate Purity Koskey on October 28, 2026, where she denied the charges.
She was released on a bond of Ksh30,000 or an alternative cash bail of Ksh20,000. The case is scheduled for hearing on December 16, 2026.
If convicted on the first and second counts, she faces imprisonment for up to five years, a fine equivalent to 50 per cent of the dutiable value of the goods involved, or both.
The two cases come amid increased enforcement operations by government agencies targeting the manufacture, possession and distribution of illicit cigarettes, counterfeit products and alcoholic beverages.
On October 22, 2026, the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) announced intensified nationwide operations targeting counterfeit and illicit alcohol, tobacco and nicotine products.
The authority said the crackdown was aimed at protecting consumers, legitimate businesses and the economy from the effects of illicit trade.
ACA Board Chairperson Nelson Ributhi Gaichuhie warned that counterfeit networks continued to exploit consumer demand and legitimate distribution channels.
“Counterfeit and illicit trade imposes a cost on our country that cannot be measured in money alone. It is borne by the farmer whose harvest fails because of counterfeit inputs, by the consumer exposed to dangerous alcohol, by the student relying on substandard learning materials and by families whose health is put at risk,” Gaichuhie said.
In another operation, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) announced on October 15, 2026, that a multi-agency crackdown had resulted in the arrest of 29 suspects and the seizure of suspected contraband and counterfeit goods valued at more than Ksh62.7 million.
The three-day Operation Usalama XII involved several agencies, including KRA, the Anti-Counterfeit Authority and other security agencies.
Among the seizures was a consignment of 90,000 sticks of suspected smuggled cigarettes valued at approximately Ksh2 million in Nakuru County.
In its November 3 statement, KRA said the latest interceptions demonstrated its commitment to protecting legitimate businesses, preventing harmful products from reaching consumers and safeguarding government revenue.
“The interception marks a major milestone in KRA’s sustained efforts in not only facilitating legitimate trade but also in protecting the society from consumption harmful products. KRA is committed to disrupting and thwarting all schemes that threaten the integrity of effective revenue mobilisation and mobilisation efforts,” the authority stated.
