Sumu Halali: How illicit alcohol fuels Molo's underworld

For the people of Nakuru, Molo town is synonymous to the famous Molo lamb, the harsh cold weather and the rich agricultural heritage.

However, beneath all this greatness lies a darkness so horrific that unless you experience it yourself you would not believe it.

The selling of illicit brew is a business that has found a place in this town for the last 30 years. Now, crime seems to be the twin sibling to this horrendous practice.

Upon arriving in Molo, we were directed to an area known as Casino. We immediately spot small crowds of young men not older than 35 years old sleeping in an open field.

We are then informed by our source that this group of young men are nursing a hangover. It is 2 pm on a Thursday!

Apart from the adverse effects these illicit brew has had on the youth in the area, there has been a surge of criminal activities in the area as Mr. Njenga Matendo explains.

“Areas of Casino and Mtaa wa Saba are notoriously known for the selling of illicit brew. If you are keen to follow on this you get to realize the high crime rate in these areas,” he notes.

We make our way to the infamous area of Mtaa wa Saba, an area that is considered no man’s land for anyone who seems not be in line with the status quo.

As we make our way through the narrow streets Mr. Njenga tells us that in the wee hours of the night, cases of muggings are rampant in the area.

We then enter the belly of the beast and immediately we arrive, everyone takes notice of us. We stand out like a sore thumb.

You could cut the tension in the air with a knife. Some of the young men in sight tried to engage us trying to find out why we had gone there.

Although we stood a few meters away, I could smell the pungent smell of alcohol that they emitted.

“Mnajua hapa ata polisi wanaogopanga kukuja.Ni nini inaweleta hapa?” asks one of the men.

Another tells us how we should immediately vacate the premises before they go and fetch a machete.

The hostile reception, the numerous threats and the admission by one of the men to the fact that they are untouchable confirms to us that indeed something isn’t right.

Mr. Matendo says, “There are those who will steal chicken, maize and other items and go with these items in chang’aa dens so that they can cash them in for alcohol and other drugs.”

This statement confirms the direct link of alcohol to crime in Molo.

Bernard Chege Mwangi, a resident who resides in Casino area, also narrates how cases of sexual assault, gender based violence and early marriages result from the influence of the illicit brew. 
"This alcohol has been the cause for divorce for many families in this area. When most of the young men partake this illicit brew, they become a nuisance in their homes. In the long run, wives and children end up moving out, living the young men alone. This is very common," he says. 
Additionally, Mwangi lifts the lid on rape and defilement cases that can be traced back to the consumption and dependency of this poisonous substance.

 “Cases of sexual assault have also been common in this area. We have had cases of rape and defilement, sometimes even happening within the household. A man comes in home drunk, and defiles the daughters,” he shockingly reveals. 

We reached out to Molo, Assistant County Commissioner 1 Phanuel Kimathi, who revealed to us that he is fairly new in the area adding that he is not really well versed with the matter in question.

Tomorrow: We look at families who have lost their loved ones to illicit brew and why security personnel have turned a blind eye to this menace.