Mnazi not illegal but drinking it before set hours is, police say

Mnazi sellers wave bottles filled with the drink when they protested against police harassment, saying the brew is legal and healthy as it is made from the coconut fruit. [Photo: File/Standard]

Residents have been warned that although palm wine or mnazi is not illegal, sellers and consumers will be arrested if found with the liquor outside the stipulated hours.

Matuga Administration Police Commandant Phidilia Kisinyo said this after she led a crackdown that impounded 1,000 litres of kangara brew and 100 litres of chang'aa at Denyenye area on Sunday.

"Our raids don't target those taking mnazi, but if they are found at the joints before or beyond the time stipulated by Mututho law, our officers will arrest them,' she said.

This comes following widespread protests from residents in the coastal counties who have opposed the crackdown on mnazi, saying the State should not arrest residents for drinking legal alcohol.

Ms Kisinyo at the same time claimed some mnazi sellers also engage in selling bhang, warning that they will not be spared.

"Our raids will target anyone operating any business which is harmful to the citizens' health. The raids will continue until we are satisfied it is clean," she added.

The Sunday operation also led to the arrest of one Jebes Otieno, who was found selling illicit brew.

Addressing journalists at her office in Kwale yesterday, Kisinyo said a tip-off from the public led to the suspect's arrest, adding that the raid also got rid of equipment used to brew the illicit brew.

"The suspect was operating from a Swahili house, and it was difficult for anyone to suspect there was such a business going on but we managed to act in time and destroyed the killer brew," she said.

Face charges

The officer noted it was not clear where the suspect used to sell her product after brewing since there is no outlet near the house.

"We only suspect the woman has been using the place as a brewery for the kangara and chang'aa, which could then be sold in other places including Likoni and Mombasa," she said.

Kisinyo said the suspect will be taken to court to face charges of preparing a deadly brew with the 100 litres of chang'aa as exhibits to be displayed in court.

Meanwhile, Wundanyi Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation Chairperson Evelyn Wabosha Mghanga was convicted by a local court for selling alcohol without a licence.

She was charged that on March 14 this year at Iriwa village in Taita-Taveta County, she was found selling 145 litres of pasha liquor without a licence.

Mghanga pleaded guilty to the charge before Wundanyi Resident Magistrate G M Gitonga who sentenced her to six months in jail or a fine of Sh40,000.

She paid the fine and was set free.

In the same court, a man was fined Sh10,000 or serve one month in prison for selling mnazi without a licence.

Vincent Nyambu Kituri pleaded guilty to charges that on July 12 this year at Mdangenyi village in Wundanyi, he was found with 10 litres of mnazi which he intended to sell without a licence.

Three other bars were shut down after they were found selling second-generation drinks as the campaign against illicit liquor.