Five people on Monday appeared before Chief Magistrate John Njoroge in a Kisii court, to answer charges over prohibited selling, drinking and brewing of illegal liquor.
Ruth Nyarangi, Robina Kemunto, Gladys Onyieko, Henry Mbaka and Maurine Moraa were all arrested over the weekend by police patrol selling Chang’aa in different places of Kisii County, and were charged of dealing in alcoholic drinks without a licence contrary to the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act.
All the five law offenders pleaded for mitigation alleging that they are forced by the hard economic situation to try and earn a living.
“I seek court’s forgiveness because I am a widow and I have children to feed. Please, I am not doing this willingly but it is the last resort for me at the moment, I am poor with five children to feed. Please forgive me,” Pleaded Maurine Moraa.
The chief Magistrate said that despite the mitigation, the law binds him and the accused have to face the charges as stipulated by law as a measure to curb the illegal business, which he said is a rampant problem in Kisii County and must be curbed.
The region is known for the rampant illegal brewing of ‘chang’aa’, with area residents urging police to crackdown the drinking dens and arrest those involved.
They all pleaded guilty and were fined Sh10,000 each or serve a three months jail term.