Chief dies allegedly after consuming excessive alcohol

BY JAMES MUNYEKI

NYANDARUA, KENYA: An assistant chief has died after allegedly consuming excessive alcohol in Nyandarua County.

Kimuru sub-location in Kipipiri district assistant chief was found dead by the road side Thursday morning after having spent the night in a drinking spree.

The body of Josphat Kariuki was found by school going children lying in pool of water by the roadside some few meters to his home.

Kipipiri OCPD Charles Chebet who confirmed the incident said that it was not immediately established why the body had no clothes.

“He had been drinking at Ndemi trading center in the evening and we suspect that he must have fallen into the waters by the roadside as he headed home. We are yet to identify why he had no clothes,” he said.

Chebet alleged that the administrator had spent the day in the office only to go to the bar in the evening.

He said that police was however still awaiting postmortem reports to establish the real cause of his death.

The death comes at the wake of a row between bar owners and the county government over the sale of alcohol in the area.

Deputy Governor Waithaka Mwangi has insisted that all bar licenses remained revoked until a liquor law is passed.

“This is a major problem in the area and we regret that alcoholism has claimed even a government official. We will fight this menace to our level best,” he said.

Waithaka has directed that all bars operating in the area be closed down to prevent further deaths.

“We will stand by this and we will take stern action against people found selling alcohol in Nyandarua county. We will not mind about any opposition on this issue,” he said.

The body of the deceased was moved to JM Kariuki Ol Kalou memorial hospital mortuary.