Laikipia Chiefs Apprehensive About Their Lives While Fighting Illicit Brews
Leaders pouring illicit brews
By Antony Mwangi
Chiefs and Assistant chiefs in Laikipia West Sub County have expressed fears about threats on their lives by unknown people for spearheading the fight against illicit brews.
The administrators who are tasked with combating the vice have said that they have started receiving threats from suspected brewers who are opposed to the ongoing crackdown.
Speaking during an occasion when they destroyed by pouring 5,000 litres of illicit brews at Siberia village in Laikipia County, Kiamaina Senior Chief Muraya Waithaka said that the brewers have turned their anger on them by issuing threats with some targeting their homes.
The brew was recovered in a home days after another over 10,000 litres of the brew was destroyed deep inside the South Marmanet forest.
Waithaka said that unknown brewers in the area have threatened to burn down their houses to avenge the crackdown.
“The major setback we have received in our fight against the killer brews is that we have been threatened and even told that our homes will be razed. We cannot specify at the moment who is pushing that message but we are still using other security personnel to investigate.
“I want to ask the forestry department, KWS and the regular police to help us in the fight because some alcohol is prepared deep inside the forests and closer to elephant breeding grounds in Marmanet forest,” said Chief Waithaka.
Mr. Waithaka has however vowed to remain unbowed in the fight against the brew menace saying that they will not be scared.
He regretted that illicit brews have raised the poverty rate in the area.
Mr. Waithaka urged residents present during the pouring of the illicit brew to volunteer information to the police that will lead to the arrest of all illegal brewers in the area.
The chief said that they raided the home and found the brew hidden in the house but the suspects fled before they could be arrested.
On February 16 this year, Rumuruti police station Deputy OCS Prosper Wandera was stabbed to death by revelers when he raided an illicit brew den on the outskirts of Rumuruti town.
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