A Kisumu Law Court on Friday fined two people Sh10,000 each after being found guilty of brewing illicit brew and selling of the same without licence.
Kisumu Chief Magistrate Lucy Gitari ordered the two, Samuel Ochieng and Stephen Ocholla to get rid of all liquor manufacturing equipment they own within a period of seven days, an exercise that will be supervised by Police.
“The accused under Police supervision are ordered to destroy the brewing equipment and a report be presented before this Court within the next seven days,” said Magistrate Gitari.
The two who are brothers were arrested on Monday at their home in Chemelil where they carry out their illicit brewing exercise. They were arrested following an uproar from the public who alleged they were serving underage children.
In their defence the two accused claimed that Kisumu County government had denied them a licence to operate and therefore chose to go ahead with the business.
“Your honour we are not to blame as it is our wish to conduct a legal business but our county government did not support us when we needed a licence, since they declined to issue a licence legalising our business. Our products are also good for human consumption,” said Ocholla.
However Ochieng asked the Court to give him at least a week to raise the fine. In return Gitari granted him a five day period to raise the fine or take a period of three months behind prison bars.