Six Relatives Dead, Five Blinded By Illicit Brew In Kirinyaga

Six family members have perished, and five others have become blind after taking illegal brew in Kangai village, Mwea East, Kirinyaga county.

Kerugoya County Health CeC George Karoki said that one of the deceased was a patient who had been referred to the Kerugoya County Referral Hospital but died on arrival on Tuesday.

"There was a case that was referred to Kerugoya County referral hospital, but it could not be managed, and we have reports that that patient died on arrival at the facility," Karoki said

 Relatives of the victims stated that five more family members died in their homes after taking the liquor, and their bodies had been taken to a funeral home.

"We have other reports that we got from relatives and family members that we are yet to confirm, they are saying they lost five other relatives who had consumed the illicit brew," he said.

"We are told that they died at their residences and were therefore taken straight to mortuary."

The five are reported to have been part of a group who stole 'California,' a notorious, strong illicit liquor peddled in the area.

Videos showed residents swarming around the five people, hoping to determine whether they had gone blind.

According to Karoki, the victims' symptoms, including impaired vision, are comparable with prior incidents of ethanol abuse.

"We suspect this illicit brew had ethanol because of the signs and symptoms that they exhibited; it showed that they had blurred vision and could not see well," Karoki told the media.

"This type of chemical can cause liver cirrhosis and other nervous system problems, including that sign where they cannot see well."