Kenya: At least 60 people have been reported dead after they consumed outlawed brews in Embu, Kitui, Makueni and Kiambu counties. Hundreds others are hospitalised with serious sicknesses and loss of sight. It is not the first time such incidents have happened. We hope this will be the last time, though.
When the Government zero-rated East African Breweries Ltd’s Senator Keg, the aim was to draw away consumers from illicit concoctions often laced with poison to the healthier, cheap and branded drinks. This seemed to have worked for some time.
But then duty was imposed in the 2013 Budget, pushing the price up by 60 per cent to Sh40, thereby pricing out the targeted consumers and reversing the gains envisaged by EABL and policy-makers then. It was back to the dance with death with the poor imbibing brews that are made without regard to safety and not subjected to any quality tests.
While brewers who deliberately lace their drinks with poisonous substances to make them more potent deserve punishment, causes that make people so reckless with their lives should be addressed. And that includes assessing policies that have far-reaching consequences, like imposition of duty on cheaper, healthier options.
There is a correlation between high illiteracy levels, joblessness and the consumption of illicit brews. As the stresses of life pile, the poor who are most vulnerable find temporary solace in cheap alcohol, but often with disastrous results.
In other words, drunkenness is a consequence of other societal issues that could be addressed through proper legislation and regulation. Therefore, considering that local brews are banned, what role does county governments and local administrators play in assisting such bodies like the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse (Nacada) eliminate this source of death? Apparently, previously reported cases have not acted as effective deterrents. It is time to find longer-lasting solutions to prevent such needless deaths.
