Uproar in coast over crackdown on mnazi wine traders

He said the wine is tapped naturally from the coconut tree and no chemical is added to it unlike second general spirits or other illicit drinks like Chang'aa.

"The brew has various cultural and social uses among the Mijikenda tribe, terming it illicit is an insult to the Mijikenda people, and police officers should stop frustrating and extorting our people," said Mwambire.

He said the Kilifi County Assembly will not sit back and watch Mnazi sellers and users being harassed by law enforcement officers and called for talks to address the misconceptions.

"We have seen some people getting mad about the consumption of palm wine by our people in the Coast region but this is not an illicit brew but a cultural and social wine," said Mwambire.

He added: "I want to caution the national government and in particular Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to go slow and learn more about Mnazi before including it among illicit brews."

The coconut tree is considered one of the main cash crops on the Coast and has been receiving government funding. Kilifi County has also incorporated the tree and all its products, including Mnazi as a cash crop.