Consumption of illicit brews in Kenya continues to trouble the government despite efforts to contain it.
Traders in the illegal business are smiling all the way to the bank while continued consumption of the liquor is affecting the consumers.
At least six people are reported to have died a few days ago in Njoro, Nakuru, after consuming illicit alcohol said to have been laced with methanol.
In August, 10 people died and others lost sight in the same county after consuming illicit brew.
The manufacture and consumption of illicit brews in the country continue unabated despite the existence of local administrators.
Several factors favour the growth of this trade in spite of efforts by authorities to control it.
According to a study on illicit brew by Kenyatta National Hospital in 2000, the main causes of alcohol abuse include stress, idleness, peer pressure, family history, personal history of trauma and curiosity.
The report further shows that there is a prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse among the following calibre of workers.
Manual workers account for 67 per cent. These are mostly casual workers with no regular income hence, are more stressed and resort to drinking to relieve the stress.
The unemployed, at 19 per cent also take to alcohol to relieve their stress as they have no guaranteed source of income. The rest the report shows are owners of small businesses at 14 per cent.
According to studies, alcohol is prevalent in rural areas and the informal settlements in the country’s major towns. It is mostly second-generation alcohol that is adultered by the brewers to increase potency.
Locally manufactured alcohol takes days to be brewed. More revelations show that there is a huge insatiable demand for liquor.
To meet the demand, alcohol is laced with chemicals like formalin, methanol, agricultural fertilizers, jet fuel and car battery acid.
These help speed up the fermentation process. The additives are hazardous with dire consequences to human health.
In 1996 more than 20 people lost their lives while dozens lost eyesight in Maragua, Muranga after consuming illicit alcohol. The liquor according to police reports, had been laced with methanol.
The worst alcohol tragedy in the country was in 2000. Over 140 people lost their lives to illicit alcohol nicknamed, ‘Kumi Kumi’ in the sprawling slums of Mukuru Kayaba, Nairobi. Another 80 people lost their eyesight.
The business continues to thrive in the country despite the existence of laws to fight it. Administrators charged with the implementation of the legislations are compromised leaving the public at the mercy of the rogue brewers.
It is a lucrative venture. Some alcohol dens are operated in proxy by the mighty and influential in society. They are considered as ‘the untouchables.’ When the sellers are arrested they don’t stay for long in police cells as they are easily bailed out.
Since most of the rogue vendors work in cahoots with the law enforcers, the government should take stern action against the compromised administrators.
In 2010, parliament enacted Alcoholic Drinks Control Act famously known as ‘Mututho Laws.’
This was meant to protect those below 18 years and limit alcohol drinking hours.
It helped reduce cases of alcohol abuse in the country but corruption by law enforcers continues to curtail the full implementation of the laws.
In 2015 president Kenyatta declared war on the illegal alcohol trade in the country.
Dozens of liquor licences were revoked and illegal alcohol destroyed by a team of multi-agency law enforcers.
The exercise which mainly targeted Nairobi and Central was considered to be a bedrock of the illegal liquor trade, also saw several law enforcement officers interdicted for being too complacent.
The war on illicit brew can only be won if we all become accountable. As private citizens, we should report the rogue traders to the authorities.
Since most of the rogue vendors work in cahoots with the law enforcers, the government should take stern action against the compromised administrators.
To find a lasting solution to this, the officers should be rotated regularly to prevent complacency.
Fines should be imposed on the illicit trade vendors.
The government should come up with more rehabilitation centres and sponsor reforming of the addicts while religious bodies and society should help counsel them
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
