Chiefs warned over killer brews
Police pour impounded liquor after a swoop. Photo/FILE
What you need to know:
All out war on lethal drinks:
- More than 70 people were arrested and 200 litres of illicit brew seized during a police crackdown in Kitale town last week.
- In Nakuru, 43 suspects were charged with brewing and drinking illicit liquor.
- In Loitoktok, police seized 60,000 litres of “power alcohol” — an ingredient used in making the killer brews
- Police have intensified investigations into killer brews, which have so far claimed the lives of more than 30 people in Nyahururu, Ruiru and Banana.
Chiefs whose locations will witness deaths caused by consumption of illicit brews will be sacked, Internal Security minister George Saitoti has warned.
Prof Saitoti blamed chiefs for not exposing brewers of dangerous liquor because they are compromised. (Read: Kenyan leader orders crackdown on illicit brew)
“These chiefs are also very good consumers of the illicit alcohol and whenever they attempt to apprehend the brewers, they are bribed with a free drink or money,” added Prof Saitoti.
He warned the grassroots leaders they faced the sack, should people die in their locations over illicit brews as a result of their laxity.
The minister raised concern over recent incidents, particularly in central Kenya, where more than 30 people died and others lost their sight after consuming lethal brews.
Prof Saitoti was addressing chiefs in Marakwet West District after laying a foundation stone for the Sh44 million construction of Kapsowar District headquarters.
Fighting crime
The minister said the government will put up a police post in Kapsangar-Kapterit where bandits are terrorising residents.
He warned criminals terrorising civilians on the Marakwet West-West Pokot border to hand in illegally acquired weapons or face the full force of the law.
“To prosper in national development, security of our people is paramount and that is what we are striving to protect. No one carrying out lawless activities and disturbing peace will be tolerated,” he said.
He was accompanied by Rift Valley PC Osman Warfa and MPs Gideon Konchela, (Trans Mara) Lucas Chepkitony (Keiyo North) and the host Boaz Kaino (Marakwet West).
The minister heard that not less than over 20 boda boda (motorbike taxi) operators and traders had been attacked and killed by robbers in the past few weeks.
“It is unfortunate that we live in fear in this place. We cannot travel at night because of the armed gangsters,” said Mr Kaino.
He told the minister: “Our women have been raped and killed by the armed bandits in these forests and on the highways. The insecurity menace here has retarded development in this agricultural rich zone.”
Mr Kiano urged Prof Saitoti to confirm the recruitment of some 54 police reservists posted to the area, barely two months ago, as a way of beefing up security in the region.
