State mulls stern action to curb illicit brew menace – Gachagua

The government has said it will in a week’s time unveil a raft of stern interventions to end the illicit brew and drug abuse menace in the country.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua made the announcement Thursday after holding a multisectoral meeting attended by Interior, Health and Treasury Cabinet secretaries and Attorney General Justin Muturi.

The agenda of the meeting was finding ways to contain and eradicate illicit brew and drugs and substance abuse in the country.

“The government will not allow merchants of death to continue with the illegal business of illicit brew, drugs and other substances,” the DP said.

“In a week, we will announce multi-agency and multistakeholder measures the government will take to decisively deal with this menace,” he added.

The meeting at the DP’s official residence in Karen was also attended by top security officials including Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome, Deputy Police IG Douglas Kanja, his Administration Police counterpart Noor Gabow and acting Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Paul Ndemo.

Also present were KRA Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga, Nacada chief executive officer Anthony Omerikwa, Kebs Director Quality Assurance and Inspection Dr Geoffrey Muriira, Anti-Counterfeit Agency executive director Dr Mbugua Njoroge, Julius Kaluai of Pharmacy and Poisons Board, Dr Jane Njiru of the Veterinary Medicine Directorate, Nema’s Dr Catherine Mbaisi among other officials from relevant agencies.

The country is still reeling from the loss of at least 17 people in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, who died after imbibing illicit brew at a local bar.

Six of the victims died at home while the rest succumbed in hospitals. At least four others lost sight.

Authorities in the area said ethanol, a major industrial chemical, is a key intoxicating ingredient used to lace alcoholic drinks such as beer and distilled spirits giving them the lethal intoxicating capability.

A police insider said the February 6 tragic incident at Kangai village resulted from an illicit brew exhibit that had been sold by rogue officers at a local police station to a bar owner who then sold it to the victims.

Angry residents of the village descended on the bar at dawn the following day and destroyed crates of beer, tables and other property before setting the establishment ablaze.

The proprietor, John Muriithi Karaya, a local tycoon, was arrested and produced at the Baricho Law Courts on February 8 in connection with the deaths at his California Bar.

The court detained him for 20 days pending the conclusion of investigations. The case will be mentioned on March 7, 2024.

Meanwhile, Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru on Saturday, February 17, ordered the closure of all drinking joints in the county and directed fresh audit and issuance of licenses.

"We have reached our end...Today I want to announce that all bars in the county have been closed, and a new process of verifying the licenses has begun. The county government has withdrawn all the licenses with immediate effect," the governor said.

She spoke during the funeral service of the victims of the California bar tragedy in Kangai village, Mwea.