Kiambu breweries approved by Mututho now burnt

Residents of Wamwangi watch as fire engulf Pure Real Herbal Limited premises after irate youth torched it.The company was manufacturing traditional brew.Residents said they were following a presidential order who directed all those dealing with second generation brew to be dealt with in any manner.PHOTO BY KAMAU MAICHUHIE.

Two breweries in Gatundu South, which had seen National Authority for Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) Chairman John Mututho and Chief Executive Officer William Okedi lock horns, were on Saturday razed by residents.

Led by their MP Moses Kuria, the angry residents stormed Croton Herbal and Pure Real Herbal Ltd in Wamwangi and Munyui-ini respectively and set them ablaze.

Mr Kuria said he had, for a long time, yearned for the day the two breweries would be closed, adding that the fight against illicit brews would never be the same again.

"When I was campaigning, I promised residents that the two breweries would be closed down. I am happy to see that the pledge has come to pass," he said.

The MP called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to disband the Nacada board, saying it had failed Kenyans by failing to wipe out illicit brews.

"It has taken the President's intervention to remove these killer brews from the market, which means Nacada failed in implementing its mandate. MPs should be given power and resources to deal with illicit brews in their respective areas," he said.

Women were elated following the torching of the two breweries, which they said have taken their husbands and sons hostage.

"We are today happy beyond words since our prayers have been answered. Our husbands and sons knew nothing else apart from drinking. They had even abandoned work and families," said Catherine Wairimu, a resident.

County Commissioner Esther Maina said the fight against illicit brews would continue even after the four days given by the President. "We are warning breweries and sellers to stay away from this illicit liquor business since it will land them in jail. It is not going to be business as usual," she said.

The two breweries had been in the headlines since April after Mr Okedi ordered their closure after their products were suspected of causing the deaths of four people.

His directive was, however, not enforced after Mr Mututho went ahead to give the two a clean bill of health.

Okedi's move had been informed by an inter-agency report on the two factories prepared by Nacada, Anti Counterfeit Agency, Kenya Bureau of Standards and public health officials.

The report was presented to Okedi in March and among its recommendations was closure of the two factories for allegedly operating without requisite licences.

The report also recommended the prosecution of the factories' directors for use of recycled beer bottles from other companies. Antony Mwangi, a manager at Croton, denied claims that the company was operating illegally.