Patiala Distillers K Limited has vowed to take legal action against Mathira Member of Parliament Eric Wamumbi and Nyeri Wahome Wamatinga.
This was after they accompanied a group of locals to the Mathira East Deputy County Commissioner’s office, where they destroyed alcoholic beverages valued at Kes 6 million.
On February 20, Patiala Distillers says it distributed 400 crates of 'Diamond Ice’ and 1,000 cartons of 'Flying Horse’ alcohol brands to a licensed regional distributor.
In a letter to IPOA, Patiala Distillers K Limited adds that the alcohol was confiscated by the Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) on February 21 because it was unfit for human consumption.
“An inventory was carried out at Mathira Police station and the alcohol was taken into lawful custody, the DCCs office. After analysis, government agencies including the Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Bureau of Standards and the Anti-Counterfeit Agency did their separate analysis and gave the alcohol a clean bill of health,” the distiller said.
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Further, the distiller told IPOA that MP Wamumbi and Wamatinga were supervised and protected by police officers as they later led the destruction of the property on February 26.
“It is equally evident that the Mathira lawmaker, Hon Eric Wamumbi and the Nyeri Senator Hon. Wahome Wamatinga exploited law enforcement officers to destroy property in lawful custody, against our client's interests, actions which have instilled immense fear for loss to our client and the many Kenyans who depend on the company as a source of livelihood.”
While calling on IPOA to investigate and take action against the police officer, Patilia has said it intends to sue the two MPs.
Led by area lawmaker Eric Wamumbi and Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga, the residents staged the raid at the Deputy County Commissioners’ Office, citing concern that the liquor may be released into the market.
“As the area MP, I cannot allow what happened in Kirinyaga to happen here,” Wamumbi said during the raid.
Wamumbi said he is ready to face alcohol manufacturers in legal battles due to his actions, saying he will not sit and watch his constituents die from illicit brews as long as he is in office.
On her part, Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga warned those selling counterfeit liquor that they would be arrested.
“We know you cannot give it to your children yet [yet] you want our people to die. We are coming for you even in your bars,” said Wamatinga.
Women who participated in the raid said they were happy their sons and husbands were safe from “brews of death.”
Through lawyer Danstan Omari, Patiala has defended its products, saying that they are good for human consumption and meet all standard requirements by regulators such as KEBS and KRA.
