“The Changaa-Virus”

https://nairobinews.nation.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Changaa.jpg


I

n July 2015, President Uhuru Kenyatta summoned members of parliament from Mount Kenya region to the statehouse “We must agree we have a problem that needs immediate action”, he told them, declaring “agenda number one is pombe, number two is pombe and number three is pombe (alcohol)”

The president stated of how the region was on the throes of a drinking predicament fuelled by availability of cheap illicit brews with horrible warnings of an entire generation being lost to alcohol.

The lawmakers reacted by fighting the changaa-virus from all region by striking hard on both the consumers and the producers. Those were the moments that made me place my faith wholly to the lawmakers

In pictures: Kenya's deadly drink | | Al Jazeera.

I come from Kiambu County, Gatundu North Constituency, Makwa location also Makwa village. Makwa is well known for the production of illegal illicit brews also known as ‘Changaa’.This product has affected most of my age mates and a lot of the people I happen to know. Even after the location being at the spotlight in the country that made the Cabinet Minister of Interior Dr. Fred Matiangi visit the location twelve months ago to personally enforce measures that was to lead the end of the ‘changaa’ production, the brewing trend has even increased during this COVID-19 Pandemic.

My blame is to the same lawmakers whom I placed my faith to, back in 2015 for they now make a living from the ‘changaa-virus’ affecting my village. ‘Kitu kidogo’ has become the norm, where they collect approx. KSHs 400 per day thus giving a go ahead nod to the producers/brewers and the consumers.

I honestly thought that the COVID-19 pandemic and curfew would at least give all involved stakeholders a humanity scare and cease the business but everything is normal around here. One of my friends told me that “hata kumi kumi ilirudi!!” {They even have one worth ten bob!!}

My plea is to you law maker who still have his/her humanity to listen to our cry and act on it. I also plea to my fellow Kenyans who happen to be affected by this “changaa-virus” to join my hashtag {#SayNoToChangaa-Virus} and protect our future generation from this virus. Enough is enough!!!


Sleeping rough after drinking changaa | martin.ndugu | Flickr

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