Police officers on Friday, July 14, arrested a driver in Nyeri County accused of adding water to milk before selling to unsuspecting customers.
Authorities who took the driver into custody reported that the milk was destined for Meru.
He was apprehended after farmers complained that their milk was being rejected by customers and milk collection points.
"We laid a trap to catch the driver because this is gross misconduct. We got the information this morning and we got concerned prompting us to do something to help the farmers," a law enforcer stated.
The police and the farmers hid in a nearby bush to catch the driver as he diluted the milk before transporting it.
Residents who spoke to the press noted they tracked the driver's journey to the dairy minutes after handing over the milk to him in the morning.
To their shock, only milk transported by the suspect was rejected.
"The farmers have almost lost trust in the drivers who can not guarantee that the milk will safely get to the dairy," one of the residents complained.
When police pounced on the culprit and arrested him it was reported that he was in liaison with a second suspect to add water to the milk before selling it almost five months.
Following the raid, police confiscated the milk as evidence to continue with investigations and ensure the culprits are brought to book.
Police also discovered that the dairy where the milk was being taken to was not licensed for operation adding to the risk of selling contaminated goods to the public.
The authorities launched a search for the owner of the dairy to unravel why the set-up was operating without proper documentation, risking the lives of the consumers.
According to the Dairy Industry Dairy Produce Safety Regulations 2020, a person shall not sell, attempt to sell, offer, or expose for sale or have in possession with intent to provide, sell, offer, or expose for sale any dairy produce which is adulterated or misbranded.
"Any person who fails to comply with any of the provisions of this Part shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding ten thousand shillings or imprisonment for a period not exceeding twelve months, or both such fine and imprisonment," reads part of the regulations.
