Molo Deputy County Commissioner, Ngura Mwamachi, has sent packing the Chandera Location, Molo Chief John Nderitu, for laxity in the fight against the sale of illicit brew that has recently claimed the lives of two local young men.
Addressing a baraza at Chandera Village, Mwamachi assured the locals that a replacement is being made to allow them to continue being served without any hiccups.
The DCC’s move comes a week after irate residents of the area set ablaze four houses allegedly belonging to four culprits said to have sold illicit liquor that led to the said deaths.
The agitated members of the public accused the local chief of condoning the sale of illicit brews in the area after receiving bribes from the brewers and even housing them.
Nderitu is also said to have been the cause of the crumbling of over 100 families who had previously sought help from him to help stop the menace, but without any success.
The locals attributed the loosening of the local moral fabric to the consumption of illicit liquor in the area, lamenting that the vice had become a major ingredient in increased marital problems among families.
A religious leader, Simon Mbatia, who expressed his sentiments during the baraza, lamented Nderitu’s laxity in his work, saying that it is unfortunate that he was offering no solution to this issue but only watering down their efforts.
Mbatia said that most men consuming illicit liquor are failing to administer their conjugal rights and have neglected their responsibilities, and therefore there is a need to have an administrator who will help the locals in this fight.
Another local resident, Rufus Mwaura, said they needed a new chief since Nderitu had surrendered in the fight against rising cases of societal ills in the area as a result of rampant consumption and sale of the illicit liquor.
The DCC urged them to remain calm as investigations into the matter commenced.
On his part, the area Sub-County Police Commander, Timon Odingo, urged the locals not to take the law into their own hands but to allow the security team to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
Additionally, Odingo further urged the residents to work closely with the authorities by volunteering any vital information that would lead to the arrest of the main culprits.
Last week, the locals marched to the local Chief’s office demanding his ouster, saying he and his Administration Police Officers had failed to eradicate illicit brews in the area.
By Emily Kadzo
