Alex Mwaruta and James Munala Inyangala have been arrested after detectives uncovered a suspected counterfeit juice production operation at a homestead in Muthua, Kabete, following a report from a member of the public.
Detectives from Kabete Police Station visited the homestead after receiving information about the suspected illegal activity.
What appeared to be an ordinary residential compound turned out to be a suspected juice production site.
The two men were found at the premises while they were in the process of producing suspected counterfeit juice.
Detectives arrested them as officers began searching the homestead for materials linked to the operation.
The search led to the recovery of about 1,400 filled bottles containing suspected juice.
The bottles were in two sizes, with some holding 200 millilitres and others 300 millilitres.
Detectives also recovered 56 cartons of empty bottles, five packets of bottle tops, two blue drums and three basins of different colours. The items were found in different sections of the homestead during the operation.
Among the other materials recovered were office glue, rubber stamps, ink and assorted stickers. Detectives said the materials appeared to have been used in preparing labels for the suspected counterfeit products.
Officers also found an expired certificate authorising the use of the Standardisation Mark for a well-known juice brand.
The certificate was among the items secured by detectives as investigations into the suspected operation continued.
The search further led to the recovery of assorted powdery and colourless substances. The substances had been packed in polythene bags in portions of about 50 grams and in 200ml and 300ml bottles.
The scene was later processed by detectives from the Crime Scene Investigation unit, who documented the premises and the recovered items. The materials were secured as exhibits as investigators continued examining the suspected production operation.
Mwaruta and Inyangala remain in custody as detectives work to establish the source of the materials and determine how long the suspected operation had been running.
The discovery comes amid increased efforts by authorities to deal with counterfeit products in the Kenyan market. Government agencies have been carrying out raids targeting businesses suspected of manufacturing, repackaging or distributing fake goods.
The Anti-Counterfeit Authority has previously warned businesses involved in the trade of counterfeit products that enforcement operations would be intensified across the country.
The authority has also reminded traders that suspected counterfeit goods can be seized in circumstances provided for under the Anti-Counterfeit Act, 2008.
Counterfeit beverages produced outside approved and regulated facilities can expose consumers to products whose ingredients, handling and production standards have not been verified. Such operations can also affect legitimate manufacturers and reduce government revenue from taxes.
The Kabete operation is part of wider investigations targeting suspected counterfeit and illicit manufacturing activities in different parts of the country.
Detectives are expected to establish whether the two suspects were operating alone or whether other people were involved in the supply and distribution of the suspected products.
The DCI said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to trace and disrupt networks involved in the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit goods.
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