At least two people have died and five others are fighting for their lives after consuming a suspected poisonous traditional brew in Mutuati, Meru County. Authorities confirmed that the victims started experiencing severe headaches and blurred vision before two of them succumbed.
The first victim, identified as James Mutembei, was found dead at a local shopping centre after drinking alcohol at a nearby home. Police said Mutembei had been drinking with six other individuals, all of whom were rushed to Mutuati Hospital in critical condition. The patients were later referred to Nyambene Level Four Hospital, where a second victim, 70-year-old Kamenchu M’mkinyeri, passed away while receiving treatment.
Investigators have since visited the home where the group had been drinking the local brew, popularly known as Musengeri. Officers seized ten litres of the substance believed to have been contaminated. The bodies of the two deceased individuals were taken to the local mortuary for post-mortem examinations as part of ongoing investigations.
Samples of the seized alcohol have been forwarded to the Government Chemist for testing to determine the type of poison that led to the deaths. The five survivors remain under medical care in serious condition as authorities continue to trace the source of the brew.
The tragedy comes amid heightened national operations against the production and sale of illicit alcohol. Law enforcement agencies have been cracking down on unlicensed brewers across the country following a surge in cases of alcohol-related deaths.
Officials have reported the destruction of thousands of litres of illegal liquor and the arrest of several brewers in recent months. The crackdown also targets narcotics, with police seizing large quantities of cannabis and other drugs in ongoing operations.
Authorities have urged members of the public to avoid consuming unregulated alcohol and to report any suspicious brewing activities in their areas. The fight against illicit brews continues as the government seeks to curb the growing menace that has destroyed lives and families across Kenya.
