How Kenyans die in their prime during drinking spree

Hannah Magiri's mother Grace Nduta. Ms Magiri died after she was allegedly drugged at a popular bar in Ruaka, Kiambu County. [PHOTO: FIDELIS KABUNYI/STANDARD]

Stories of spiked drinks at night clubs evoke horrific memories for two families that were robbed of their loved ones.

On April 28, this year, Hannah Magiri, 20, was laid to rest at Muchatha village in Kiambu County. Her friends and relatives said she was drugged at a popular bar in Ruaka town.

She had left her mother’s house in the company of two of her close friends.

As they partied at the club, where it is claimed she smoked shisha suspected to have been laced with drugs, she became unconscious, vomited and blood oozed out of her mouth and nose.

She later died at Tigoni Sub-County Hospital where doctors confirmed that she had been poisoned. But the club owners, in a statement, disputed the family account of events leading to the girl’s death.

The latest victim, John Mbugwa died two weeks ago as he celebrated his 30th birthday at another popular entertainment joint along Thika road.

Mr Mbugwa’s drink was reportedly spiked and he began vomiting. He did not make it to hospital.

A postmortem examination confirmed Mbugwa had been poisoned.

The pathologist’s report indicated that he had a white substance in his stomach that was stinking and samples were taken to the Government Chemist for analysis. Yet another victim was buried two months ago in Ndumberi. He died after his drink was spiked at a bar in Nairobi.

Among some high profile victims that have fallen to the poisoning include the late Juja MP George Thuo who is said to have collapsed while out with friends in Thika.

He first rushed to a nearby hospital. Thuo was transferred to Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi where he was pronounced dead.

Six people were arrested and charged with murder related charges. The case is pending in court.

Two months ago a popular businessman in Kiambu narrated how on the fateful night, he had just left a golf club and on his way home he decided to have a drink at Ruaka.

He ordered his drinks and in the close to two hours he was at the club, a woman had joined his table. He said they were not together and only realised when he was told to foot her bill. He could not tell what transpired next.

He was rescued by women from his village at around 4am along Kipande Road while they were taking their farm produce to Marikiti market in Nairobi. He lost his phone and Sh100,000. The women had extorted every caller that had called his phone.