Sacking of Kenyan chiefs did not eradicate illicit brews

Despite the sacking of five chiefs for failure to contain the illicit brew menace, brewers in the Ngomongo slum are still in business.

A senior administrator who did not wish to be named for fear of reprisal claimed one of the brewers was arrested on Sunday morning and 300 littrs of illicit liquor netted. The  brewer was later released upon paying a bribe.

"Even as Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho was holding a public baraza in the slum on Thursday last week, some dwellers were still running their illicit trade as usual while those who had been appointed to speak on various issues before the PS had their speeches choreographed to suit the situation," the administrator claimed.

He alleged regular policemen who arrested the brewer, who is well-known and enjoys special protection from powerful individuals within the establishment, were compromised along the way. He said despite having briefed Kibiciho about a chief known for protecting brewers, he avoided the topic.