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The Mountain Journal
A liquor outlet blamed for selling illicit alcohol that caused the death of six people at Kangai
area of Kirinyaga county on Tuesday had no operating license.
County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Sports, Culture and Social Services
Dennis Muciimi says the County Liquor Licensing Committee had rejected the application to
license California Bar in December last year.
Six people are reported to have died while five others lost eyesight after
consuming the illicit brew at the bar. The brew is suspected to have been laced with
ethanol.
Muciimi said the application for the bar license was rejected based on the allegation of
selling of illicit brew, insecurity, and poor sanitation.
“This particular outlet was operating illegally; it had not been issued with a license by the
County government because of failing to comply with the County Alcoholic Drinks
Control Act No. 3 of 2014 and all the requisite Regulations,” said Muciimi.
He said the county has a rigorous liquor licensing system meant to protect consumers
of alcoholic drinks by ensuring fair and ethical business practices related to the production,
distribution, promotion, and sale of alcoholic drinks.
The County Executive Committee Member of Health, George Karoki said the five who
had lost eyesight and were being treated at Njegas Health Centre.
Karoki said the victims were brought to the hospital with symptoms of blurred vision
which is an indication of cirrhosis and other nervous system problems.
“We are suspecting they could have taken an illicit brew with high content of ethanol; we
know very well this kind of chemical will cause issues in the liver,” Karoki said.
He said among the deceased was a patient who had been taken to the Kerugoya
County Referral Hospital but died on arrival. The rest of the victims are reported to have
died at home.
“We have other unconfirmed reports from relatives of people who died at home and
were taken directly to the mortuary,” Karoki added.
Mwea West Deputy County Commissioner Teresia Wanjiku said the owner of the bar has
been arrested and taken to court on several occasions for selling illicit brew and
operating unlicensed liquor outlets only to be released for lack of sufficient evidence.
Wanjiku said efforts by police to close down the bar have been frustrated by the court
and the owner who is on the run has been having his way out.
“We arrested the owner of this bar almost ten times and took him to court and were
planning to move our cases from Baricho law courts to Wang’uru because the suspect
seems to always get a favorable judgment,” she said.
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