Two more people dead after consuming illicit alcohol in Kirinyaga

Two more people lost their lives on Thursday after consuming suspected illicit alcohol at Kandongu village in Kirinyaga, a town that has recently become the focal point of illicit alcohol-related fatalities in the region.

Reports say that one of the deceased persons, a middle-aged man,  passed away on the Sagana-Kagio Highway while being ferried to Kerugoya Hospital by police after consuming the counterfeit alcohol. He had reportedly complained of severe stomach pains prior to his demise.

"We found him crying over stomach pains and we called police officers who rushed him to hospital but died after arriving at Kerugoya hospital," Joseph Kibara, an eye witness, told Citizen Digital.

The second victim, 52-year-old John Gatimu, died at Kerugoya Hospital while receiving medical attention after consuming the toxic drinks that he allegedly sourced from Kandongu Trading Centre.

Subsequently, angry Kandongu residents attempted to raze down some of the bars at the trading centre but were dispersed by police.

The development comes almost 10 days after 17 people lost their lives to the illicit brews within the same Kirinyaga town.

Subsequent reports later revealed that the liquor was police exhibit that had been stored at Kiamaciri police station. 

A police officer, who declined to be named told Citizen Digital that the killer brew had been stored at the station before four rogue officers sold it to locals.

The four officers were subsequently arrested and arraigned at the Baricho Law Courts.

Senior Principal Magistrate Stephen Nyaga allowed police to detain them at Kerugoya police station until March 7, 2024, to enable them to complete investigations. 

The immediate former Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Kiamaciri police station Kennedy Mugambi, who is currently an SOP in Kabete was among the officers arraigned. 

Mugambi, alongside Allan Kiamazi, Brian Kariuki and Francis Muteithia allegedly broke into a store at Kiamaciri police station and stole the exhibit which they then sold to a local trader.