By Lauryne Akoth
A majority of County Assembly members from the Mount Kenya Region voiced their discontent with the judicial system.
Speaking in the funeral service of the 17 victims who died as a result of illicit brew, Mt Kenya Region leaders blamed courts for letting down citizens.
They criticized the courts for releasing individuals arrested for operating bars with illicit brew on bail and imposing low fines.
They underscored the recurring issue with John Muriithi, the proprietor of the bar responsible for the illicit brew that resulted in the death of 17 people.
Muriithi had been arrested 16 times, but each time he was released on bail, enabling him to continue his illegal activities, ultimately leading to the tragic demise of the 17 and the blinding of other victims who consumed the illicit substance.
Addressing Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Jane Maina, the Women Representative for Kirinyaga Constituency, called for the police officers who broke into Kiamaciri Police Station, stole, and sold exhibits of the illicit brew to face accessory to murder charges for the 17 victims.
Kirinyaga County Governor Anne Waiguru was also not left behind. She urged the courts to establish minimum fines commensurate with the severity of offenses during prosecution.
She cited concerns about Muriithi’s consistent release with fines amounting to KSh 2000. She also ordered the immediate closure of all bars in Kirinyaga County, with a subsequent verification process for all licenses administered to bar owners.
She urged the deputy president to back her decision as most bar owners fled to court to seek court orders to prevent her administration from shutting down joints operating illegally.
The angry governor additionally emphasized that individuals with a record of being taken to court for failure to pay for an operating license or involvement in selling illicit brew, upon thorough vetting, will be denied an operating license.
The governor also declared that officials within the Kirinyaga County government would not apply for bar operating licenses while actively working to enforce regulations for bar owners.
She asked the officials to either choose to operate the bar or work for the county government as doing the two was a clear conflict of interest.
Other Mt Kenya Region elders who spoke against the selling of illicit brew include honorable Muchangi Mp, Runyenjes, Hon Gitari Gachoki, Mp Kirinyaga Central, Hon Gk Macharia, Mp Ndia constituency and the women Representative Kirinyaga County, Jane Maina.