Residents burn three houses over illicit alcohol

George Mwai, whose house and that of his grandmother, were burnt down by demonstrators. PHOTO | MUCHIRI GITONGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • It was the second homestead to be torched in a week on suspicion that their owners were selling illicit alcohol.
  • After torching the houses, the residents held a demonstration to Umande Police Station, where they accused the area chief of abetting the sale of illegal liquor and collecting bribes from distillers and brewers.
  • On Saturday last week, residents and students of the secondary school burnt down another homestead few metres from the one set ablaze on Thursday.

Angry residents of Umande village in Daiga Division, Laikipia East Sub-County on Thursday raided a chang’aa brewing homestead and set on fire three houses.

Among the burned houses were that of Mr George Mwai and that of his grandmother, which neighbour Kalalu Secondary School, where a teacher died a week ago after consuming illegal alcohol.

It was the second homestead to be torched in a week on suspicion that their owners were selling illicit alcohol.

On Saturday last week, residents and students of the secondary school burnt down another homestead few metres from the one set ablaze on Thursday, after the body of the teacher, Mr Vincent Gichohi, was found in the compound after a drinking spree.

The residents accused Mr Mwai of distilling and selling the liquor, saying they had warned him several times to stop the trade but he had ignored them.

COLLECTING BRIBES

After torching the houses, the residents held a demonstration to Umande Police Station, where they accused the area chief of abetting the sale of illegal liquor and collecting bribes from distillers and brewers.

“We shall make sure that there will be no more sale of illicit liquor in this area. We are also aware that it is usually ferried from Likii slums,” a resident, Veronicah Njeri, said.

Mr Mwai confessed that he had been selling alcohol but said that he had already repented and had promised Deputy County Commissioner Kang’ethe Thuku and police boss Kegode Kidiavai that had stopped.

“They visited my home on Wednesday and I promised them that I will never sell the alcohol, only for the villagers to burn my home today,” he told journalists.

He added that residents also assaulted his wife, whom they found washing clothes before setting the houses on fire. Nothing was salvaged.

The incident occurred in the wake of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive that all illegal liquor be eliminated in Mt Kenya region and directed MPs in the region to spearhead the four-day campaign.