Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki took decisive action in the wake of a tragic incident that claimed the lives of 13 individuals in Kirinyaga County, issuing a directive to recall senior law enforcement and National Government Administration officers in the region.
The move, announced on Friday, February 9, came in response to the alarming deaths attributed to the consumption of illicit toxic brew in Kangai Village, Mwea, sparking widespread concern and demands for accountability.
In a statement, CS Kindiki emphasized the need for thorough investigations to identify any misconduct or negligence among the recalled officials, with the aim of administering appropriate administrative action against those found responsible. "The Government has recalled senior law enforcement and National Government Administration officers who by conduct or misconduct may have contributed to the recent loss of lives occasioned by the consumption of an illicit toxic brew in Kirinyaga County, Central Region," the statement read.
The tragedy unfolded on February 6 when six individuals lost their lives, with five others suffering from blindness after consuming expired alcohol known as "California." Despite efforts to address the situation, the death toll rose to 13 as additional victims succumbed to the effects of the toxic brew while undergoing treatment.
Kirinyaga Health County Executive Committee Member George Karoki attributed the fatalities and cases of blindness to contamination of the alcohol with ethanol, highlighting the grave consequences of illicit alcohol consumption.
The call for action was echoed by Kirinyaga Women Representative Njeri Maina, who urged CS Kindiki to hold accountable any rogue local administration officers complicit in facilitating the distribution of illegal liquor. "I am saddened by the loss of 13 lives in Kangai, Kirinyaga County, due to consumption of poison-laced illicit alcohol," Maina stated, urging swift intervention to address the underlying issues contributing to such tragedies.
In response to public outrage, residents of Kirinyaga took matters into their own hands, setting ablaze a bar accused of selling the expired alcohol to the victims. The incident underscored the community's frustration with perceived negligence and corruption within the local authorities, prompting demands for the immediate transfer of implicated police and administrative officials.
Amidst these developments, a multi-agency team initiated a nationwide crackdown on bars selling expired alcohol, signaling a broader effort to address the pervasive issue of illicit alcohol distribution and safeguard public health and safety.