• The fresh deaths were reported between Wednesday and Friday in Kandongu village within Kirinyaga County
• Local officials said they expect the toll and number of those in hospitals to rise further given reports that the brew is still in circulation in the area.
The death toll from the Kirinyaga killer brew has risen to 20 after three more victims succumbed.
More than five others are admitted in hospitals after they consumed the contaminated alcohol.
The fresh deaths were reported between Wednesday and Friday in Kandongu village within Kirinyaga County even as Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki visited the area as part of efforts to address the menace.
Local officials said they expect the toll and number of those in hospitals to rise further given reports that the brew is still in circulation in the area.
Two other people lost their sight and are still admitted.
This came a week after at least 17 people died and dozens were admitted in hospital after drinking the poisonous alcohol.
Kindiki said the owner of the bar where the victims took the alcohol will face murder charges.
He said the sale of illicit brew is now equivalent to banditry and terrorism.
Speaking in Kirinyaga on Friday, the CS said he will be very ruthless in the war against illicit brew.
“We are going to treat it (illicit brew menace) the way we have treated the problem of terrorism and banditry by having a continuous permanent operation until this problem is gone,” he said.
The CS ordered the closure of all village bars across the country.
Kindiki said the nationwide operation is going to be active for as long as the illicit brew is on circulation.
Following the incident in Kirinyaga, several police officers allegedly sold illicit liquor that had been seized as exhibit for Sh20,000.
The four officers have since been produced in court and detained for 15 days as the probe into the matter continues.
Ethanol had been confiscated and detained at a local police station before the officers allegedly sold it to a local businessman.
It was then consumed at the California bar in Kangai village. Those who consumed the liquor suddenly developed complications such as loss of sight, before six died on the spot.
Residents claimed the exhibit had been held at Kiamaciri station for two days before being sold.
Police say at least 17 families have since come out to report that they lost family members.