Eldama Ravine protests: Two-year jail term for woman found with 160 litres of busaa

The demonstrators drawn from Poror, Kiplombe, Kabimoi and Shauri villages said the trade had wreaked havoc in their communities, with some calling for rehabilitation support and tougher action against suppliers.

“Nursery schools zimefungwa, our men wamemalizwa na hii pombe… we need NACADA to support rehabilitation,” said one resident, Lucy Mitei.

Another resident, Lawrence Bomet, said the community was tired of burying loved ones, accusing traders of distributing toxic brews to villages in the area.

The protests came as a man believed to be a key suspect in the crackdown, James Nderitu, was arraigned at the Eldama Ravine law courts.

Nderitu was charged with being in possession of 255 litres of suspected uncustomed ethanol valued at Sh612,000, packed in ten 25-litre jerricans, allegedly intended for illegal distribution. Prosecutors said the consignment would have attracted excise duty amounting to Sh452,880.

He denied the charges before Chief Magistrate Boaz Ombewa, who ordered that he be held as the court awaits a bail hearing scheduled for February 18.

“We have a bail hearing the day after tomorrow… tarehe kumi na nane, kwa wakati huu utazuiliwa,” Ombewa said.

In a separate case, another suspect, Christina Kabon, was charged with being in possession of 160 litres of busaa in contravention of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act.

Kabon pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years in prison, with an option of paying a Sh1 million fine.

Authorities said the arrests form part of an ongoing crackdown targeting illicit brews and tax evasion in parts of Koibatek Sub-County.

Baringo Senator William Cheptumo (or “Cheburet Chemitei” if that’s the correct name from the clip) called for tougher bond terms for suspects linked to illicit alcohol, arguing that low bail amounts were undermining enforcement efforts.