Kajiado alcohol dealers in mortal fear of women

Illicit alcohol is poured in Nairobi on July 11, 2015. FILE PHOTO | EVANS HABIL |

What you need to know:

  • Bar owner says she was beaten until she lost consciousness.
  • Traders in Isinya say they have lost over Sh30m since the crusade began.

You have seen them on television ransacking bars for illicit alcohol with steely determination and they are not about to relent.

Police say Isinya’s women are breaking the law but no arrests have been made. It does not take a genius to know that the law enforcers do not want to be seen as being against the anti-illicit liquor campaign, which has gained momentum across the country.

On Thursday, more than 200 women were at it again. They descended on the wind-swept Olooloitikosh shopping centre on the Isinya-Kiserian road and destroyed illicit alcohol and drinking dens.

A week earlier, they had raided bars in Isinya town whose owners say they have lost over Sh30 million.

Ms Lucy Wangare, who owns a pub there, told the Nation on Sunday that a group of women stormed her premises and demanded the keys to her bar at 6.30am on Thursday morning

“They broke down the door with axes and destroyed crates of alcohol.

“I was stripped naked and caned. I collapsed and regained consciousness at Ngong Medical Centre,” she said.

DESTROYED BARRELS

Ms Mary Njeri, a bartender, said her hair was shaved.

Ms Wangare’s business partner John Mwangi said the women destroyed barrels of keg beer meant for distribution in Olooloitikosh and other towns in Kajiado.

“We have lost 91 barrels of keg, 55 crates of beer — all distributed by Kenya Breweries Limited — which is a licensed manufacturer. We do not understand why the women are destroying legitimate businesses,” he said.

Mr Mwangi said police arrived when the women had already accomplished their mission.

Distributor Francis Kiarie said his company has lost Sh1.8 million worth of beer in the raids.

He urged the government to protect legitimate businesses from destruction.

According to the businessman, although President Uhuru Kenya’s directive to fight against killer drinks is in order, the women should differentiate between good and bad alcohol.

NOT AUTHORISED

Kiserian police boss George Seda said the women broke the law.

“They acted on the basis of a July 3, presidential directive on a countrywide crackdown on illicit brews. However, the women are not authorised to invade and destroy private businesses,” he said.

Oloosirkon/Sholinke Ward Representative Daniel Kanchori said the women are acting out of desperation due to the failure of relevant institutions to get rid of illicit liquor especially in the rural areas of Kajiado.

“The police and the county government have failed to curb alcohol abuse, which is destroying the fabric of the Maasai culture,” said Mr Kanchori.

The MCA said the women have good intentions to prevent alcoholism from destroying their families.

Mr Kanchori said the Kajiado County Assembly was preparing a motion to tighten the rules on alcohol sale and consumption.

“We have held several meetings with the women and advised them to desist from destroying property and licensed alcoholic drinks,” he said.

An official at Isinya Sub-County Licensing Office, who did not want to be named, told the Nation the women were motivated by other underlying issues such as sale of land, absenteeism, abandoned homes and children.

He said some men have concubines and have failed to fulfil their conjugal obligations. However Il Damat MC David Nkirimbai condemned the destruction of private property.