A mob of Kirinyaga residents on Tuesday, February 6, set ablaze a bar which they claimed was selling expired alcohol to unsuspecting residents.
The move to burn down the structure was prompted by the tragic incident where six people died while five others were rendered blind after consuming alcohol from the pub.
Eyewitnesses alleged that the angry residents demanded the immediate transfer of the local police and area chief accused of neglecting their duties.
“What has angered us is the sale of illicit alcohol. Like me, in my family, we have lost three people," claimed a woman who was part of the crowd that turned up to torch the bar.
"I am so sad I can't even speak, and even when the police come here they are bribed and go away,” lamented a resident.
While justifying their decision, the residents accused the local authorities of failing to apprehend the suspect despite having full knowledge of their misconduct.
“It is not the first time they have been here, and even the area chief doesn't do his role. We are very aggrieved and we should have new police officers and chiefs,” claimed a resident.
"We are angry because here people are dying consecutively, for instance, currently seven people are dead so what should we wait for there is no help from the govt because if they were serious they could have already dealt with this situation."
While commenting on the deaths caused by the illicit brew in Kirinyaga, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) Chief Executive Officer Anthony Omerikwa stated investigations had been launched to ascertain the main cause of the deaths and blindness.
Omerikwa in his statement dated February 7, cautioned the public on the rising cases of illicit alcohol-related deaths and illnesses and urged them to avoid consumption of alcohol whose quality cannot be verified.
"The Authority continues to work closely with the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) and other law enforcement agencies to intensify the crackdown on substandard, illicit, and counterfeit alcohol to safeguard the public from harmful alcohol," Omerikwa stated.
"We also appeal to the County Governments to execute their devolved licensing mandate to control the proliferation of bars, wines and spirits outlets, many of which do not meet the required operating standards," he added.
