DP Gachagua blames Judiciary over illicit alcohol in the country as 17 victims buried in Kirinyaga

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is now blaming the Judiciary over the rising cases of illicit brew in the country which has led to the deaths of many people especially in the Mt Kenya region.

Gachagua who spoke on Saturday during the burial of 17 people who died after consuming the deadly liquor at  Kangai and Kandongu villages in Mwea-West Sub-County, Kirinyaga County, said the courts had failed in their mandate to prosecute cases related to illicit alcohol.

He claims that court orders occasionally favour one side thus making it hard for justice to be delivered and illicit liquor to be eradicated in the country.

According to the DP, the courts have already shown their incapacity to deal with the menace of illicit brewing and the Chief Justice should now allow the county governments to move and contain the mess.

"I want the judges to look at this photo. I should actually send this photo to the Chief Justice, so that she can tell her people to allow governors to deal with this problem," said the DP referring to the 17 coffins paraded at the funeral of the victims of the killer brew in Kirinyaga.

He added: "...Because they have been issuing ex-parte orders which are one-sided. All this illicit alcohol being sold in the country has been allowed by the courts. We are wondering are the courts really helping or are they making things worse?"

The 17 Kenyans tragically lost their lives last month after consuming toxic illicit alcohol in Kandongu village, Kirinyaga County.

Later investigations uncovered that the alcohol consumed by the 17 individuals and several others who lost their eyesight was confiscated liquor stored at the Kiamaciri police station as exhibit.

The lethal brew is reportedly said to have been stored at the station before four rogue officers allegedly sold it to a member of the community. The four officers were subsequently arrested and arraigned at the Baricho Law Courts.