A drinking joint was stormed by the irate parents and wives of young men and women consuming the illicit brew commonly referred to as miti ni dawa drinking.
The angry mob threatened to mobilize other residents to burn down the joint unless local law enforcers shut it down. According to the parents, the highly addictive cheap alcoholic drink that sells at Sh10 per cup had proved to be a security and health hazard and the local law enforcers should shut it down with immediate effect.
The parents were accompanied by the Teachers Council of Elders in charge of security matters. Paul Ogega criticized local police, chiefs and their assistants for abetting illegal brews drinking in the area.
Gladys Nyambura one of the wives of people trapped by the illicit brew drinking, said her husband who worked as a jua kali artisan at Mariakan business centre had since abandoned his work due to addiction to miti ni dawa.
She said her husband’s health had also deteriorated to the point where he suffered many bodily harms caused by injuries he sustained in bar brawls. She said that he would come home late in the night and wakes up very early to go.
“I have been wondering where he gets money
She also added that the cheap alcoholic drink is freely shared among revelers.
A parent of a 27 year old Information Technology Communication graduate Leah Wamboi, and a retired teacher said his son Alex Njoroge has since abandoned going to town since he started drinking the illicit brew.
“He borrows me money for transport and lunch on daily basis but comes home late while drunk. I have been investigating him but am shocked to learn that this is where he spends time during the day. The government should do something,” she said.
Ogega said police officers from Bahati, Nakuru and the local Teachers police post are aware of the illicit joint but abet the crime by receiving bribes from the operator who also bails out revelers when arrested. He said that many young men and women had abandoned responsibility and work due to addiction.
“We can blame this to greediness by operators of such joints and corruption by police officers and laxity from chiefs and sub chiefs who are well aware of these joints. We are telling them to act fast before things get out of hand otherwise we will mobilize residents to take the law into their own hands,” he said.