Four dead, 7 in hospital after drinking spree

John Mburu(in cap) and David Maina at Thika level five hospital where they are undergoing treatment after drinking suspected illicit brew in Kiandutu slums yesterday.Four of their colleagues died while seven others were hospitalize for treatment.PHOTO BY KAMAU MAICHUHIE.

Three men and a woman died in Kiandutu slums in Thika yesterday following what police described as excessive drinking. Seven others, two of them in critical condition, were admitted at Thika Level Five Hospital.

Residents in the slum said three of the victims died before they were taken to hospital while the fourth passed away while receiving treatment.

Hospital Superintendent Andrew Toro said one of those brought to the hospital died while another escaped from the institution. Dr Toro said the others were being treated and were in stable condition.

The victims included casual labourers from nearby quarries, boda boda operators and matatu touts from Thika town who live in the expansive slum.

Some of the survivors said they bought the drinks from boda boda operators. The boda boda riders had allegedly found it dumped by the roadside and took it to the slums where they sold it to unsuspecting people at a throwaway price.

David Mbugua, who escaped death by a whisker after he was rushed to the hospital by good Samaritans, said he and his friends had been on a drinking spree since Monday when the cheap liquor was made available.

“After drinking for several hours, many of us started feeling dizzy and developed stomachaches and headaches. Some started complaining they could not see and collapsed. We later learnt they died,” Mr Mbugua said from his hospital bed.

A police officer, who asked not to be named, confirmed the deaths, adding they had already collected three cartons of the killer brew and taken them to the Government Chemist for analysis.

“As we await the results, we are also investigating the possibility of expired liquor having been sold to unsuspecting locals,” said the officer.

He said the drinks, packed in 250ml bottles, were consumed by a larger number than those who were taken to hospital. He appealed to those who may have drunk the liquor to seek treatment.

Similar tragedy

Thika West Sub-county Commissioner Jeremiah Gicheru said a major crackdown had been launched in order to seize more of the drinks, which he believes could still be hidden in the area.

Mr Gicheru cautioned residents against buying alcohol whose origin they did not know from hawkers.

The deaths follow a similar tragedy in Gatundu where four people died after drinking a killer brew at a bar owned by an assistant chief.