Seven killed after drinking deadly spirits from Uganda

A chief, a public health officer and a teacher are among seven people who died on Thursday after drinking poisonous alcohol in Nandi County.

Five of the seven victims were dead on arrival at the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital while two others died at home.

Doctors and nurses at public hospitals in the county were placed on high alert as residents feared the death toll could rise due to the delayed effects of the drink.

OFFICIALS IN A FRENZY

The fatal alcohol is said to have originated from Uganda and was sold in plastic sachets. It had not been cleared by the Kenya Bureau of Standards.

The calamity threw government officials into a frenzy as it happened just hours ahead of President Kenyatta’s official visit to the county on Friday.

The hospital’s superintendent, Dr Francis Maiyo, and the county’s chief public health officer, Dr Edward Serem, feared there could be more victims.

Among the dead was Mr Edwin Chebutia, an assistant chief at Kamobo Sub-location, Kapsabet Division, Mr David Koech, a public health officer, and a teacher at St Peter’s Academy Primary School identified as Mr George Kirui.

Authorities named the other victims as village elder Christopher Kirwa, matatu driver Willy Kiptoo, and businessman Ibrahim Kombo. The seventh victim’s identity was not immediately known.

The assistant chief’s relatives met the Nation Media Group’s print and TV team with hostility when they visited his Kamobo home.

“Of what use is your presence here?” a relative asked, forcing the team to leave.

FURTHER ANALYSIS

The Nandi County public health officer, Mr Isaac Ruto, said samples of the fatal drinks have been sent to the government chemist for further analysis.

He identified the deadly brews as ‘Coffee Spirit’, ‘Meakins’, and ‘Premium Gin’, adding, they were from Uganda and were retailing at Sh40 per sachet.

The chief consumed the fatal drink at Kapsabet’s Sizzler’s bar, which the authorities immediately shut down.

Village elder William Chirchir Koech said he was with the assistant chief and another village elder when they consumed the drink.

“I got a call from Chebutia, the assistant chief, who asked me to join him for lunch and we started drinking Meakins, but I left around 6pm after the third drink,” Mr Koech, who later went to hospital after his vision became blurred, said.

Nandi County Commissioner Matilda Sakwa said police have been instructed to erect roadblocks to ensure the poisonous drinks do not find their way into the county.