Three children in hospital after drinking chang’aa

To many people, Christmas is all about making merry but drunkards take too much intoxicants without thinking of how they will walk home

Three children are fighting for their lives at Kapkatet Hospital in Kericho County after consuming five litres of chang’aa.

Residents of Kaproret village in Konoin, Bomet were thrown into panic after the children aged between six and 10 were taken ill.

They are said to have stumbled on the brew while herding cattle near a tea plantation on Tuesday.

A village elder, David Ruto, told The Standard a resident found the children unconscious and raised the alarm.

“One of our neighbours found the three children already unconscious with the illicit liquor by their side and were immediately rushed to Kapkatet,” Ruto said.

By the time of going to press yesterday, doctors at the facility had said the children had regained consciousness and were out of danger.

The incidence ignited protests from locals, who invaded brewing dens and destroyed hundreds of liters of illicit brew.

Four suspects were yesterday arrested following a crackdown ordered by Interior CS Fred Matiang’i. They will be arraigned tomorrow.

Last Friday, a man died in the same village after consuming illicit brew.

Emanuel Rono, a resident, said the man was found at a drinking den already dead.

“He drank and went to take a rest outside the brewing den only to be found dead, and there is no action... the same brewer is still operating,” he said.

Bomet County Police Commandant Naomi Ichami said the children were out of danger.

Ms Ichami said police are investigating area Assistant Chief Benjamin Chirchir, who was alleged to have been protecting such brewers.

Elsewhere at Rambugu village in Rarieda, a 55-year-old man suspected to have overindulged in alcohol died.

Onyango Yongo is said to have died after he allegedly consumed a cocktail of traditional brews including chan’gaa at his brother’s home.

Witnesses told The Standard Yongo’s brother had prepared a Christmas party.

According to James Odire, a neighbour, the man and two other old men are said to have become unconscious after taking a lot of alcohol.