Why I quit brewing ‘changaa’

Most, if not all illicit brew narratives end in tragedies. People have lost sight and lives after taking illegal hooch prepared in the most unhygienic conditions in the world. Families have broken, breadwinners lost, pupils and students forced out of school... into early marriages. But whenever the brewers and sellers are asked why they do the illegal business, the answer has always been, "I do it to get something to feed my children". And is it the only thing? 

So when I heard of a woman who, out of her own volition, decided to exit this club of illicit brew sellers, I decided to go after her, armed with a lot of questions. 

A waft of unmistakable aroma of fresh fish in deep fry hit my nostrils as I arrived at Domtila Nyachonga’s home. Before me were fresh Nile perch fish of various sizes, washed, dissected and neatly arranged in a row to drain water. It is eleven in the morning and Domtila has already travelled to Lake Victoria (to buy the fish) and back - a distance of about 40 kilometres. 

Next to the dissected fish is a makeshift frying parlor with fire rumbling under a frying pan half filled with hot cooking oil. In the pan I see mouthwatering golden brown deep fried fish. The widowed 68-year-old Domtila has her preparations for Sifuyo market in high gear.