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Ongata Rongai: Where booze and gospel flow like water

City News

Rongai exodus

Booze, meat and God. That's what counts in Ongata Rongai.

The 'diaspora' is littered with pubs and close to 200 churches (both mainstream and charismatic), which provide spiritual healing, alongside pharmacies that peddle condoms and morning-after pills. Close by will be the ubiquitous butcheries that promise drunkards a date with gout.

Almost every building in Rongai houses a pub, liquor store and 'lodgings.'

"There is variety to suit the needs of everyone. Many people in Nairobi find this area a convenient getaway for drinks or a retreat during weekends," a resident told The Nairobian.

MCA John Wanyoike said there are so many pubs in the area. This is the reason the Kajiado Alcoholic Drinks Control and Licensing Board is now planning to scrutinise and weed out those operating illegally.

History has it that in the 1980s, Rongai had two major butcheries that even supplied meat to Nairobi and neighbouring towns. The two became a centre for booze and merriment to accompany nyama choma.

"Wherever there is boiled or roast meat, you are sure to find alcohol. That is how Rongai became the leisure town it is today. Soon after, other businesses mushroomed, starting with hardware stores to serve the middle class that was investing in plots," says Peter Chege, a resident, adding that nearly 20 banks have branches in the town.

Businessman Marias ole Pakine believes that were it not for insecurity, the booze business in the area would be doing much better.

Pricey and cheap sex workers, including university students, have meanwhile made Rongai pubs a second home and for men who frequent the bars, many of whom have been robbed after their drinks were spiked.

But the lucrative meat business is slowly fading and shifting towards nearby Kiserian. Business owners fear that this will eventually spur an exodus of pubs to the nearby town as well.

 

 

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