At least 7 die after consuming illicit brew in Kenya

At least seven people died and five others were hospitalized on Wednesday after consuming toxic brew in Thika town of central Kenya's Kiambu County.

Kiambu County Chief Public Officer Dominic Gicheru said the deceased were reportedly on a drinking spree since Monday.

"Its unfortunate that such a tragedy happened in Kiambu while a crackdown on illicit brew was still underway," Gicheru said.

Some survivors said they bought the drinks from motorcycle taxi operators who collected the stuff on the roadside near a local hotel and took it to the county's Kiandutu slum where they sold at throw-away prices.

It is reported that more than 30 people, including women, took it and the eight cartons are said to be in circulation in most shops in Thika. And it was not clear where the brew originated from.

Most of the victims were from the sprawling Kiandutu slums and were casual laborers and motorcycle and public transport operators from Thika.

Upon consumption, they started feeling dizzy, developed stomachaches, headaches and loss of appetite. Some of the them started to lose sight before succumbing, recalled the survivors.

Residents, especially in central Kenya, have blamed the local administration of being compromised by brewers, whom are carrying out business in the open without being arrested.

The government launched a crackdown on illicit brews across the country soon after some incidents last year, and ended up charging several people for manufacturing the deadly spirits.

Home brew is popular among Kenyans because it is cheap and extremely strong. Traditionally, the ingredients range from fermented corn and sorghum meal to juice from coconut and sugarcane. Endi