Kenyan Breweries Unlimited
I am really confused about this issue and rationale... In both EA Standard and Nation
In the 1970s, President Moi imposed the ban on the brewing and consumption of traditional liquor, saying it retarded development and contributed to breaking up of families. Last week, Finance minister, Mr Amos Kimunya, announced that Government had lifted the ban on consumption and brewing of traditional liquor including busaa, mnazi and muratina. Operators of traditional liquor premises will be required to apply and follow the same procedures as the business people who operate bars.
Reason(s); The repealing of the Act comes after lobbying by some MPs and members of the public, advocating for legalisation of traditional brews. Advocates of the brews argued that legalising them would curb consumption of illicit brews, which have in the past caused deaths.
Reactions:
- ODM-Kenya presidential aspirant, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka said the lifting of the ban on traditional liquor is political. Kalonzo claimed it was a Government plot to derail the General Election through voter apathy because it had sensed defeat in the December poll. He said the move was to ensure people who take such brews stayed in drinking dens on the voting day. The Mwingi North MP said consumption of traditional brews would also retard development. Explain this to me.
- At the weekend, Moi faulted the Government for lifting the ban. No further details on how he faulted the Gava.
- Central Organisation of Trade Union Secretary General, Mr Francis Atwoli and church leaders from Baringo condemned the move, saying it would reduce productivity in workers. Am assuming it would reduce productivity because of hangover or if they drink on the job.
- The reverend Daniel Chemon of the Full Gospel Church told Government to brace itself for mass demonstrations against the move. Mass demonstrations!
I guess that's why the LORD said to Aaron, 9 "You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. 10 You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean. Leviticus 10:8-10.
3 comments:
These is comical. I thought sale of traditional liquors was banned because of health and tax reasons.
Will the govt be able to collect VAT? How will they address the issue of adulterating brews with toxic chemicals?
Brewing traditional liquor for home use should be encouraged instead of exposing the public to toxic concoctions.
Chris, even before the dust settles, the EA Standard reports "By Mangoa Mosota:- The mother of two minors who died after drinking the chang’aa she had brewed has come out to tell her story.
Mrs Jennifer Khabetha told The Standard that she had hidden five litres of the brew underground in their mud house in Shijiko village, Kakamega District.
"I went to fetch water from a nearby stream and left my three children in the house," said Khabetha, adding that she returned to find them unconscious.
"They took about two bottles of the brew. I do not understand how they knew where I had hidden it."
Khabetha, 22, said she has been selling the liquor in the past two years.
"We resuscitated her, but the other child (Mulasia) died as we tried to save his life," she said. "They died from alcohol coma, a condition in which a lot of liquor gets into the bloodstream."
Go figure!
My suspicion is that the brew contained toxic stuff meant to make it potent. If not, then that stuff was chronic.
Using the right set of equipments, people should be allowed to brew for personal consumption. They don't have to make strong brews. Just something to drink as they socialise at home.
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