Illicit brew dealers in Sasimua village in Kuresoi North have been cautioned against their continued involvement in the bootleg business that is wrecking the lives of many Kenyans especially the youth.
The call was made by the area Chief, Joseph Ruto a day after an irate public torched seven houses belonging to illicit brew traders following the death of a man in an incident connected with consuming chang’aa.
Ruto observed that the brew trade has contributed to the decay of morals in society, crippled the economy, broken family units and been a catalyst to other societal ills adding they will not relent in the war until the traders adhere to the law.
“Let us ensure that we do not tolerate this menace that is costing the lives of our loved ones, but such traders ought to face the law by ensuring that we work closely with security officers through volunteering to give information. This will promote sanity in our locality,” Ruto said.
He further condemned both the brewing of toxic alcohol and the villagers’ decision to take the law into their own hands and advised residents to always report such incidents to police officers or any government administration for appropriate action.
“What happened here is tragic. We have lost another life to poison, but this cycle must end. We will not allow criminals to destroy our community,” Ruto declared.
According to police reports, the deceased, a 38-year-old, collapsed shortly after drinking the illegal brew and was pronounced dead upon arrival at a local dispensary.
His sudden death sparked fury among villagers, who accused local chang’aa brewers of knowingly selling poison for profit.
Armed with stones, petrol, and crude weapons, over 200 villagers descended on the homesteads of the suspected brewers and set them ablaze.
In total, seven houses were reduced to ashes and property worth an estimated Sh600,000 was destroyed. No injuries were reported, but the chaos has left families displaced and tension high in the area.
The administrator confirmed that a multi-agency crackdown has already begun in the area, with intelligence officers identifying key individuals believed to be behind the illicit alcohol network.
“This is not just a village issue. We are dismantling the entire supply chain, from brewers to distributors,” he said.
He further revealed that in the past six months alone, four people have died in Sirikwa ward under similar circumstances, and more than 15 others have been hospitalized with alcohol-related complications.
“This is a silent epidemic, and we are treating it as a matter of urgent public safety,” Ruto emphasized.
He appealed to residents to cooperate with authorities and report any information on brewing sites or suppliers cautioning them against mob justice and insisting that only the law should punish offenders.
“We must restore order. We cannot lose both lives and justice at the same time,” he stated.
Local leaders, including elders and church representatives, have thrown their weight behind Ruto’s directive and called for rehabilitation programs to help those addicted to illicit brews reform their lives.
Plans are underway to introduce youth empowerment projects as a long-term solution to unemployment, which has been fuelling the brew trade.
By Emily Kadzo and Elvin Abere
