Women MPs want governors to tame killer brews

Victims of the illicit liquor being attended to. [PHOTO: STANDARD]

BY WILFRED AYAGA

NAIROBI, KENYA: Women Members of Parliament have raised concern over the deaths of over 70 people after consuming illicit liquor in various parts of the country.

The MPs have now called on the county governments to come up with tough measures to address the situation.

The members drawn from various counties addressed the Press at Parliament buildings yesterday and called for strict licensing measures by country governments to avoid such cases in future.

They said the county governments have the responsibility of ensuring that the youth within their jurisdictions are safe from brew laced with dangerous substances, and that the licensing regime for brewers should be made stricter.

CHIEFS EFFORT

The MPs included Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay) Zipporah Kering (Nandi), Rose Nyamunga (Kisumu), Rose Mitaru (Embu) and Dorcas Kedogo (Vihiga).

Ms Mitaru, in whose county over 24 people have died after consuming the brew, said sacking of chiefs will not solve the problem, and called for concerted efforts by agencies fighting alcohol abuse.

“Those who are licensing are the ones who should be condemned. We also need to send medical personnel to various parts of the county to monitor the contents of the brews being sold,” she said.

Other areas that have been affected include Kiambu, Makueni, Kitui and Murang’a counties.

Mitaru’s sentiments were echoed by her Nandi counterpart who accused county authorities of not doing enough to counter the menace.

“Liquor licensing is under county governments. We need to target brewers who do not have licenses as we cannot sit and watch as our young men die,” she said.