Watoto wanyweshwa Gongo

Seven children admitted in hospital after drinking ‘chang’aa’​

Published on 27/09/2008
By Kenan Miruka and Wairimu Kamande

Seven children are admitted at Kenyenya Sub-District Hospital in Gucha after consuming illicit brew.

The seven, three girls and four boys aged between six and 12, consumed chang’aa on Tuesday evening and were admitted the same day.

They include three brothers and two sisters from the same family.

Ms Florence Kerubo, whose seven-year-old daughter was among the casualties, told The Standard that the children were playing at a home when one of them discovered the drink in a neighbour’s house.

One of the boys had allegedly seen his mother store five litres of the brew in her bedroom and left for Kenyenya market.

The child retrieved the brew and drunk some before calling his friends to join him. They later passed out.

Luckily, a schoolboy discovered them at 5pm. The children could have died from the intoxicating effect of the brew.

The pupil alerted Mrs Mary Kemunto, a neighbour, who found five of the children lying on the floor unconscious.

"I was preparing dinner when the boy called me. I rushed to the scene and raised the alarm," Kemunto told The Standard.

Rushed to hospital

The children were rushed to the hospital where they were admitted. Mr Andrew Omwansa, a nurse at the hospital, said the children became unconscious due to low blood sugar as a result of the brew.

"The children were treated to restore normal blood sugar level and are now in stable condition," he said.

The mother of the children who consumed the illicit brew admitted to The Standard it belonged to her.

Meanwhile, in Thika, a medical student on internship in Thika District Hospital committed suicide on Friday for reasons yet to be established.

Thika District clinical officer Reginald Onono, said Duncan Kimani, 25, was a clinical medicine student from the Kenya Medical Training College.

She said that he had been on a one-year internship after completing his course work.

Thika OCPD, Patrick Mwakio confirmed the incident.

But said the motive of the youth’s suicide had not been established since he did not leave behind a suicide note.

The Standard | Online Edition :: Seven children admitted in hospital after drinking ‘chang’aa’

..Hatari sana hiyo....Inabidi huyo mama nae wamtie kolokoloni kidogo ili ajue kuwa chang'aa ni haramu na hatari