There was chaos at Njegas Health Centre in Karii Village, Mwea-West, Kirinyaga County, when three individuals were rushed in unconscious, allegedly after consuming a suspected toxic brew.
Residents of Karii and Kangai villages revealed that the victims had partaken in an illicit brew named “Jambo” at Kangai Shopping Centre. A relative of one victim shared, “My uncle Kamau drank the alcohol known as Jambo at Kangai,” shedding light on the situation.
The incident sparked outrage among locals, who blamed local authorities for failing to curb the increasing consumption of illicit alcohol in the area. Kangai Ward MCA Wambu Njiru and community advocate Denis Murimi strongly criticized law enforcement and county officials, accusing them of negligence. “The security team has completely failed us,” Murimi declared.
Growing Concerns Over Alcohol Licensing
Residents also directed their anger at the Kirinyaga County Government, alleging that it had issued licenses for more bars in Kangai and Kathiga locations despite escalating concerns about alcohol abuse.
One of the victims remains under treatment at Njegas Health Centre, while the other two were transferred to Kerugoya Hospital in critical condition.
Serah Njeri, a local resident, claimed that illicit alcohol production is rampant in nearby Marura and Kangai areas. “Bars are operating 24/7, and officers from Kangai Police Station are doing nothing to stop it. Despite promises to reduce the number of bars after the burial of 17 people who died last year, the county keeps licensing more,” she lamented.
Echoes of a Tragic Past
This tragedy comes just over a year after a similar incident on February 6, 2024, when over 20 people died and several others lost their eyesight due to toxic alcohol consumption in the same region.
The newly appointed Mwea-West Sub-County Commissioner, Millicent Ngugu, who had only been in office for a week, expressed her shock upon witnessing the aftermath of the incident.
Calls for Action
As the community mourns and expresses its frustration, residents are demanding swift government intervention to combat the menace of illicit alcohol and hold security and county officials accountable.
