The Government has recalled senior law enforcement officers in a follow up to the recent deaths of people who consumed illicit liquor in Kirinyaga County.
In a statement on February 9, 2024, Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki revealed that some National Government Administration officers believed to have contributed to the deaths have been recalled.
“The Government has recalled senior law enforcement and National Government Administration officers who by conduct or misconduct may have contributed to the recent loss of lives occasioned by the consumption of an illicit toxic brew in Kirinyaga County, Central Region,” read part of the statement.
Kindiki further added that relevant agencies have been directed to immediately initiate inquiries upon which appropriate administrative action will ensue on those found culpable.
The illicit brew turned deadly leaving a death trail of 13 and scores blind after they consumed it on February 6,2024.
Kirinyaga Health CEC George Karoki stated that the symptoms shown by the victims suggested that the illicit brew contained ethanol.
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“The type of symptoms and signs that are exhibiting themselves from these particular patients have shown that they were having blurred vision, they could not see well,” said Karoki.
Local leaders ask Kindiki to intervene
Kirinyaga women representative Njeri Maina had called on CS Kindiki to crack the whip on the local administration officers abetting operations of illegal liquor dens.
Speaking after the deaths, the legislator faulted the County’s Liquor Licensing board and the local administration for their laxity that has seen the growth of illegal liqour.
“I am hereby calling on the CS Interior, Kithure Kindiki, to crack the whip on the rogue and corrupt local administration and any other culpable officer,” said the Woman Rep.
Following the deaths, local angry residents burnt down the illicit liquor den on February 7.
The residents said they were angered by the ongoing sale of chang’aa- a local brew in the area despite the presence of police and local law enforcement officers.
“What has made us angry is the sale of illicit brew in this region, for example I have lost three family members because of this chang’aa,” said one resident.
“Even if the police come here, they are just given bribes and they leave our people to continue dying. It is not the first time they have been coming,” another resident lamented.
They called on the government to transfer the police officers, the area chief and the village headmen.
NACADA crackdown
Elsewhere in Ndeiya Sub-County in Kiambu County, a multi-agency team led by National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA) conducted an inspection on February 7.
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The operation was in collaboration with officials from Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
It involved the search of illegal alcohol and narcotic drugs that had led to the death of five people from different areas.
Meanwhile, NACADA has raised concern over the increasing number of illicit alcohol-related deaths and illnesses.
In a statement, the Authority’s CEO Anthony Omerikwa warned the public against consumption of alcohol whose quality cannot be verified.
“NACADA wishes to caution the public on the rising cases of illicit alcohol-related deaths and illnesses and urges the public to avoid consumption of alcohol whose quality cannot be verified,” said Dr Omerikwa.
