Chang'aa brewers from Otamba village in Nyaribari Chache sub-county have fled their homes, following intensified crackdown on chang'aa brewers and illicit brews dealers across the country.
Villagers at Otamba market, disclosed that known chang'aa brewers in the area have gone underground fearing arrest from the police led by local chiefs and members of the community policing initiative.
A villager, who identified herself as Jane Momanyi lamented that, the crackdown had seen several chang'aa brewers and dealers abandon their illicit trade dens to avoid being arrested.
"If you visit any known chang'aa brewing village around, you will find the doors locked as the owners have taken off to avoid being arrested in the ongoing chang'aa and illicit brews swoop in the area," stated Momanyi.
Momanyi commended the crackdown, saying, chang'aa brewing had ruined young boys and women who took refuge in the chang'aa dens to the detriment of the family and social responsibilities.
She regretted that, unlike in the traditional African culture where there was specific time and age of taking liquor ,the situation is currently the opposite as both young and the old patronize the chang'aa dens irrespective of their age, compromising the moral values expected of community members.
Her sentiments were supported by Eric Momanyi, a boda boda rider in the area who lamented that, majority of his peers had been ruined by the illicit brews and even the money they get from boda boda riding ends in the chang'aa dens to the disadvantage of their economic empowerment and family responsibilities.