Natembeya shuts down wines and spirits shops over illicit brew in Nakuru
Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya has ordered the closure of all wines and spirit joints in Bahati, Nakuru County after ten people died after consuming poisoned illicit liquor.
This comes after complaints by residents who demanded the immediate closure of licensed liquor outlets located near learning institutions.
Leading the police in a crackdown on the alcohol dens, Natembeya directed the county government to vet the dealers and issue new licenses.
“We have established that these outlets are not selling genuine liquor. They are refilling branded bottles with illicit brews which is to blame for the ten deaths recorded so far,” said Natembeya.
Natembeya said drugs and illicit brews threaten the future of the youth in Kenya and urged political and religious leaders to support Government efforts against the two problems.
He confirmed that nine of the victims have been moved to Nakuru Level 5 Teaching and Referral Hospital after their condition deteriorated while one is receiving medical attention at the Bahati sub-county hospital.
“Two more people have died bringing the deaths to ten. Nine out of the 26 who have been traced as having consumed the liquor are being treated with two of them in a critical condition,” said Natembeya.
During the crackdown, two 20-litre containers of chemicals believed to be used in making the illicit brews were recovered.
Natembeya expressed his fury with the officers and called for intensified crackdown to weed out the brewers from the area.
“It is clear that there has been some form of laxity among our officers and this has to change. This tragedy is beyond just a talk and there must be serious action,” said Natembeya.
He directed security agencies and local leaders to establish forums in all constituencies to spearhead the operation.
He called on locals to cooperate with the police in the fight against illicit brews, adding that he had led officers from various investigative agencies in visiting the village.
According to Bahati Sub-County hospital Dr Kennedy Owino, their preliminary tests point to a possibility of organophosphate poisoning.
