Ruined lives of Mathare's poor as illicit brewers mint millions

One of the illegal distilleries in Mathare Valley, Nairobi. The brew is often adulterated with poisonous compounds, including formalin, methanol, jet fuel, fertiliser and sisal juice. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

In the sprawling Mathare slums in Nairobi, a typical walk within the crime-prone informal settlement for any visitor introduces them to two things; a booming firewood business and a strong smell of fermenting flour that punches your nostrils like a gust of wind.

Behind the shanties masking the view of a river of raw sewage is the smoke that billows from different points. Haggard youths hover around. Some are part of the network that spies on visitors while others are workers in the open brewers that operate twenty-four hours a day.