8 blinded as death toll from toxic brew rises in Kitui

By Paul Mutua

Kitui, Kenya: Eight people have been confirmed blind while eleven are still admitted at the Mutomo Mision Hospital in Kitui County after consuming the killer liquor.

By yesterday, the official death toll from the brew stood at 10 in the county.

County Police Commander Cheruto Githinji said by Friday seven people had been discharged from the hospital after their conditions improved.

Githinji denied that she and her security officers were lax or compliant in the fight against sell of illicit brews in the area.

She said surveillance had been strengthen in Katilini area, Ikutha district where the deaths from the liquor occurred and at border points of the county to check importation of dubious alcohol.

Githinji said an impromptu police crackdown on illicit liquor and drugs netted 579 bottles of spirits and 30 rolls of bhang.

The local Police chief who was flanked by her CID counterpart Julius Sunkuli, Kitui Central OCPD Muchangi Kioi and his AP colleague Nicholas Mutua said officers ambushed bars, restaurants and dens where the items were seized.

Githinji and Sunkuli said seven operators of the premises where the illegal brews were being sold were arrested and would be arraigned in court Monday to face various charges.

They said an all-out war on the illicit brew and drugs had been declared and warned traders who were engaged in illegal business to watch out.

Kioi said three men in possession of 30 rolls of cannabis sativa were apprehended in Kalundu area within Kitui Township.