By Kamadi Amata
Residents and parents in Waithaka, Dagoretti South, have taken to the streets to express their deep sorrow and issue an urgent appeal to the government to intervene and stop the sale and distribution of illicit alcohol, which continues to claim the lives of young people and destroy families in the area.
Led by mothers who have lost their children alongside local youth, the residents described how toxic and sub-standard alcohol is leaving permanent scars and causing insecurity in their village.
The Pain of Mothers Who Lost Their Children
Lucy Mugure, one of the most affected victims of this tragedy, recounted with pain how she lost five (5) of her children to illicit alcohol consumption. Currently, she is left with only one child, whose mental health has also been severely impaired by the toxic brew.
“I am one of those whose children were consumed by alcohol in large numbers. My last-born came to me vomiting blood and flesh… The other one is now mentally unstable. I am in deep sorrow because this brew has troubled our homes and our village,” Lucy said.
Lucy added that besides the deaths, local security has deteriorated so badly that her household items have been stolen by youth looking for quick money to buy the brew.
Margaret Wambui, another parent who buried her child just last week after losing him to the deadly drink, appealed to the government and vendors to halt the trade immediately.
“My child was in Class 8… he just woke up in the morning, came here to Waithaka, and never returned. He went to sleep and passed away. Now I am left with the children he left behind. I just ask them to stop selling poison to our children,” Margaret shared.
On his part, Stephen Jogoo explained how he lost two of his children and is now forced to raise his grandchild after his surviving daughter fell into severe alcoholism, rendering her unable to provide basic care for her child.
“If we bury our children, who will bury us? Who holds our future? Please, let the government intervene in this matter because we are now burying our own children,” Stephen questioned.
“Enough is Enough” Youth Protest Against Deadly Alcohol
Local youth joined the protest to denounce the loss of their peers to addiction and early deaths.
Maina Waichira, one of the youth leaders at the forefront of the demonstration, stated that over 30 people have lost their lives recently, while leaders only show up to deliver speeches during funerals instead of taking decisive action.
“Many young people of my age the Millennials are gone because of alcohol. Waithaka could host furniture shops, banks, or vegetable markets, but everywhere you look, it’s just bars. Today we are saying ‘Enough is Enough’! If these bars do not move out of Waithaka, we will be back,” Maina warned.
Action and Licensing Reforms
Daniel Kiarie strongly criticized the liquor licensing system, stating that many operators use legal licenses as a cover to sell illegal and poisonous alcohol outside regulated hours.
“The main issue is that even those who own these dens have licenses, yet they still sell illicit alcohol. Those issuing licenses should inspect what kind of alcohol is actually being sold, because the operating hours they keep are not for legitimate business,” Kiarie emphasized.
The residents of Waithaka declared that they will not sit back while the distribution of illicit brew destroys the next generation, demanding immediate action from both national and county governments to close down all illegal establishments.