Mnazi brewers allege harassment

Mnazi (palm wine) sellers at Diani, drawn from Kwale County enjoying their drink. The sellers, wine tappers and consumers met yesterday at Mandingo area and decried rampant police harassment including extortion. PHOTO: TOBIAS CHANJI/STANDARD

KWALE: Mnazi (palm wine) tappers and sellers have protested against alleged police harassment.

They demanded to know why police were behaving as if it was illegal to tap or sell mnazi.

Kwale County Commissioner Kutswa Olaka yesterday said he would convene a meeting with the protesting group to iron out grievances.

During a demonstration at Mandingo in Diani town on Saturday, the sellers said they do not know if mnazi is illegal or legal. They asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene.

Suleiman Mwajoto from Lungalunga, who was the convener of the meeting, argued that the sellers had been incurring huge losses.

"I work in Ukunda as a supplier of mnazi and it is something that I have depended on to feed my seven children and two grandchildren but as sellers of mnazi we are really harassed," he said. Mwajoto said he has been arrested several times.