ya kwetu haiuwi kama yenu....nathani chang'aa yenu huwa mnachanganya na kinyesi
jul 27, 2010 posted by abdulaziz billow ali breaking news, east africa, featured news, kenya 17 dead, illicit brew, kenya, kibera slums
17 die in kenya after consuming illicit brew
17 people have been confirmed dead at kibera slums in nairobi on monday after they consumed what was thought to be illicit brew laced with an unknown industrial chemical, police sources said. Eight of the victims died and their bodied were found in their houses while the bodies of the others were found were discovered in footpaths later on monday while four others died at the kenyatta national hospital. Those killed were reported to have been drinking moonshine laced with methanol at a popular drinking den in the slum for the better part of sunday.
A 21-year-old man and another one aged 55 were reported to have died on their way to hospital after they complained of stomach-related complications. Community workers at the kibera laini saba of soweto east location were busy trying to locate missing persons on monday afternoon, after word went round that more people, mainly young men who live alone may have died in their houses at night. "so far, we have recovered eight bodies, these are people who failed to wake up from their houses and when we opened we found them dead," one community worker who only identified himself as elkana said.
This reporter accompanied the community workers to four of the houses located within a distance of about 200 meters where seven bodies were found. One of them included that of a 24-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman who was identified only as bretha. "she went drinking last night in the company of her friends, we did not see her until at about midnight when i heard her passing outside my house, and this morning she did not wake up that is when we got curious," a neighbour christine omolo said.
Area chief clement ombati, told journalists that four other victims had died while being taken to hospital. "the situation here is pathetic, there are more than ten people who have been taken to hospital but their situation is not very good, we only hope for the best," mr ombati said. At least ten people were blinded after consuming the bootleg locally known as chang'aa which police believe was laced with an industrial chemical police believe to be methanol. "we have submitted samples of these brews to the government chemist and we are waiting for the results, we are currently questioning one of the women picked up from the house where the brew was being sold," nairobi ppo anthony kibuchi said.
Kenya is not new to such cases because three months ago, 12 people died after consuming similar illicit brew in nairobi's shauri moyo estate where more than 20 other people were blinded. And in june 2005, 49 people died in machakos after they consumed illicit home-made brew suspected to have been laced with a poisonous substance.
17 die in kenya after consuming illicit brew | newstime africa
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pombe haramu tz hamna madhara raha tupu
Ilicit brew kills 6 people in Dar
More than six people are feared dead after allegedly drinking a poisonous illicit alcohol commonly known as ‘Gongo' at Kigogo Mbuyuni, Kinondoni in Dar es Salaam, it was learnt on Wednesday.
A mother of the late Ahmed Said, who died after drinking gongo, Ms Katiba Athumani (right,) mourns with her relatives. (Photo by Fadhili Akida)
Kinondoni Regional Police Commander Charles Kenyela could not confirm the incident and was yet to receive the report concerning the incident by the time we went to press.
However, the Chairman of Local Governments in the area, Mr Mohammed Mnunga, said that the deceased are among several people suspected to have drunk the illicit liquor on Sunday at a local pub.
He said the victims were suspected to have drunk the brew at the pub (kibanda) and the first victim died on Monday morning.
"One person died on Monday morning and he was transferred to his home areaÉ and on Tuesday we received a report of two more deaths and today (yesterday) we heard of five more," he told the ‘Daily News'.
According to Mr Mnunga, the deceased had suffered identical symptoms before being taken to Amana Hospital. "Most of the people who died were suffering from acute stomachache," he said. Confirmed reports have it that the first deceased known as Juma Abdallah (60) died on Monday followed by Ahamed Said (31) and Antipas Kayanda (60) on Tuesday. Other victims included Khalid Hamis (31) and Banzi Mkude (41) who died on Wednesday.
Speaking to the ‘Daily News', some relatives of the deceased confirmed the incident saying that the latter drank illicit liquor at a nearby home on Sunday. One Leonard Berege, the father of Banzi Bere, said that his son died on Tuesday night. "He was complaining of stomachache on Monday and was rushed to Amana Hospital where he died while undergoing treatment," he explained.
According to Mr Berege, his son was among the people suspected to have drunk the liquor. "He was with his friendÉ Khalid who has just died," he said. The mother of Khalid confirmed the incident. She said her son died yesterday at Amana Hospital. "Khalid was suffering from stomachache and died shortly after we arrived at the hospital," she said adding that he too drank the liquor.
On the other hand, several other residents who drank the liquor yesterday rushed to Amana Hospital for treatment. According to Mr Mnunga, the people came after they heard the news about the deaths of fellow ‘gongo' drinkers.
"Most of the people are at Amana undergoing medical check-up. Some are complaining of stomachache," he said adding that others are in critical conditions and have been admitted to the hospital. When contacted, the Regional Medical Officer of Amana Hospital, Dr Shani Mwaruka, could not confirm or deny the incident. He said he was out of the office.
By ANNE ROBI,
Tanzania Daily News