- Omerikwa called in members of the public to report any suspected illicit trade in alcohol and any other drugs.
- Omerikwa appealed to the county governments to execute their devolved licensing mandate to control the proliferation of bars, and wines and spirits outlets.
The contents of a brew that killed six villagers in Kirinyaga are yet to be known, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) has said.
Nacada urged the public to avoid consuming alcohol whose quality cannot be verified as investigative agencies try to unravel the content and source of the killer brew.
“From preliminary reports, the deaths occurred as a result of consumption of an unidentified substance whose contents are yet to be established,” said the authority's Chief Executive Officer Dr Anthony Omerikwa.
Omerikwa called in members of the public to report any suspected illicit trade in alcohol and any other drugs.
“The Authority continues to work closely with National Government Administrative Officers and other law enforcement agencies to intensify the crackdown on substandard, illicit and counterfeit alcohol to safeguard the public from harmful liquor,” he added.
He said Nacada is alarmed by the deaths and loss of eyesight among people reported to have consumed the suspicious alcoholic drinks.
In a statement, Omerikwa appealed to the county governments to execute their devolved licensing mandate to control the proliferation of bars, and wines and spirits outlets.
He said many of them do not meet the required operating standards.
At least six family members died and five others went partially blind after consuming illicit liquor in Kangai village, Mwea East, Kirinyaga County.
Kerugoya County Health boss George Karoki said among the deceased was a patient who had been referred to the Kerugoya County Referral Hospital but died upon arrival on Tuesday.
"There was a case that was referred to Kerugoya County referral hospital, but it could not be managed, and we have reported that that patient died on arrival at the facility," Karoki said.
Karoki said relatives of the deceased said that five other family members had died within their residences after consuming the liquor.
The five are said to have been among a group that took 'California', a notorious, potent illicit liquor sold in the region.
Videos circulating on social media showed residents milling around the five people and attempting to confirm whether they had gone blind.
Karoki said the symptoms exhibited by the victims, which include blurred vision, are consistent with previous cases of ethanol consumption.