Govt should take responsibility for illicit brew deaths, says MP

Machakos, Kenya: Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka has said the government should take full responsibility over the recent illicit brews related deaths of innocent Kenyans and offer compensation.

Musyoka said the government should squarely be held responsible for deaths resulting from the killer brews saying some of them bore the Kenya Bureau Standard (KEBS) stamp duty stickers.

“Some of the drinks that people have consumed and died and others lost sight bore the KEBS stamps, meaning the State agency has cleared them fit for consumption,” charged the MP.

The MP said he is contemplating suing the government for compensation following the deaths of his constituents adding: “innocent Kenyans have died from killer brews yet the government is doing very little to address the matter”. 

One person died while four others were hospitalised at the Machakos Level Five Hospital after allegedly consuming adulterated drinks at Ilaani market in Kathama, Mwala constituency last Saturday.

According to Kangundo Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) Wako Abduba, the deceased died while undergoing treatment at the hospital on Sunday.

He told The Standard on telephone that two victims of the killer brew were treated and discharged while two others are admitted at the same facility but their condition is stable.

The police boss said the killer drink is labeled Meakin like the ones brewed and packed at the Athi River based London Distillers plant but the distillers have since distanced themselves from the killer brew.