The mother of four children currently fighting for their lives at Kericho County Referral Hospital after suffering burns has confessed to having been brewing chang’aa to fend for her family.
The children got burnt after a boiling pot containing water meant for chang’aa brewing exploded in their house on Thursday as they slept.
And now their shocked mother, Vicky Cherotich lamented that she resulted to the illegal business out of hopelessness after her husband chased her away from their matrimonial home together with the children.
“I was at home boiling water to prepare the illegal brew in a pot, while my five children were asleep near the fireplace,” she recalled, adding that it was at around 3am when the pot exploded with the steamy water injuring the siblings.
Cherotich added her first born child managed to escape as he was sleeping near the door of their iron sheets constructed house, while the other four children were unlucky.
Addressing the media at the Hospital casualty wing, Dr. Willy Tanui said the children aged six, five, three and three months respectively, received 40 percent burns and required specialized treatment.
“We have blistered the burnt areas, gave them anesthesia and we are planning to refer them to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret for admission to burns unit, at the high dependency section,” said Dr. Tanui.
Present at the hospital grounds was the Kapsoit ward MCA, Paul Chirchir, who called on the county commissioner, police commander and chiefs in the region to step up war against illegal brews and drugs in the area.
By Sarah Njagi
