Kiambu County Commissioner
Esther Maina, Kiambaa MP Paul
Koinange (centre) and Limuru MP
John Kiragu at the scene in
Kiwamwaki, Limuru where it was
reported that about 30 people
drank illicit alcohol which left 10 of
them dead. Mr Koinange lost three
relatives. PHOTO/ANNE MACHARIA
ADVERTISEMENT
Ten people have died Tuesday
after consuming illicit alcohol at
Kawamwaki in Limuru, Kiambu
County.
Among the dead was a relative of
Kiambaa Member of Parliament
Paul Koinange identified as Gatu
Njeri.
Others were Daniel Mungai and
Harrison Karanja. It is alleged that
Mungai was the core seller of the
illicit alcohol.
Mr Mungai's wife, Priscillah
Wairimu was arrested and is in
police custody at the Tigoni Police
Post for being an accomplice to her
deceased husband in selling the
alcohol.
The Kiambu County administrators
were on the spot following the
deaths with residents calling for
their removal.
A father, Peter Mau and his two
sons, Augustine Kimani and
Charles Mbiyu also died. Others
were Muiruri alias Mukondoro,
Kilonzo and Phillip Mutunga.
It was feared the death toll would
rise as more bodies were
reportedly spotted and collected
from different parts of the
location. Over 30 people were
reported to have drunk the illicit
alcohol.
SURVIVOR
One survivor, John Ngugi, 36, said
that they drank the illicit alcohol
in a forested area on Sunday
evening then parted ways, but the
effects of the drink were visible on
Monday when they separately
started complaining of blurred
vision and stomach pains.
“I finished plucking tea, bought
one glass of the alcohol for fifty
shillings and drank,” Ngugi said.
When Nation.co.ke caught up with
Ngugi on Tuesday morning, he was
shaking uncontrollably, his eyes
were red and he complained of
stomach pains.
One man, a farm watchman
identified as Kilonzo was found
dead on Tuesday morning in the
greenhouse he was employed to
guard.
A charcoal burner nicknamed
‘Mukondoro’ was found dead deep
in the forest on Tuesday.
Others died at Nazareth Hospital
which is two kilometres away from
the drinking point, while others
died at Kiambu District Hospital
where they were taken for
treatment.
Five others were transferred from
Tigoni District Hospital in a serious
condition and two others to
Kenyatta National Hospital.
The alcohol was feared to have
been laced with methanol.
SAMPLES COLLECTED
Police collected two glasses of the
drink from the forest and took
them to the government chemist
for further investigations.
Kiambaa MP Paul Koinange sent
his condolences to the bereaved
families.
“I condole with the families who
have lost loved ones as I have also
lost family members since the
Gatu family are my relatives.”
He was speaking at the spot where
the alcohol was drunk together
with Limuru MP John Kiragu.
“These people have drunk poison
and not alcohol. Even the sellers of
the alcohol are dead. I believe that
if the sellers knew the drink was
fatal, they would not have drunk
it,” Mr Kiragu said.
Area Assistant Chief Joseph
Muchiri said while consumption of
illicit alcohol had reduced in the
area, those who still drunk it did
so in nearby forests.
“Alcohol consumption has gone
down in the area, but the greatest
challenge is the people who drink
while hiding in forest and run
away when they know the county
administrators are trailing them,”
he said.
NYUMBA KUMI
County Commissioner Esther
Maina, who came to the scene of
the incident said, “We need tighter
information sharing in the Nyumba
Kumi clusters to curb such
criminal activities going on in the
forests.”
Limuru residents asked for the
complete overhaul of the county
administration saying illicit alcohol
was drunk under their watch.
“We want the complete overhaul
of the Limuru administration
starting with the county
commissioner down to the chiefs,”
said Mr Francis Waweru.
“We must stop this menace before
it restarts in Kiambu. The recent
deaths show the county
administration has failed in its
job,” added Mr Waweru.
The deaths in Kiambu come as five
people died in Kitui Count after
consuming an illicit brew dubbed
Countryman Brew.
At the same time, in Embu County
18 people died and several others
were admitted to hospital after
consuming an illicit brew known
as Kathaburia at Shauri Yako
Slums in Embu town.
By Toboa siri
0 comments:
Post a Comment