[rastakid]

i do hope that it is not just me but it was appaling to come across what i did in this past sunday nation. one Dennis Onyango talked about the increasingly lethal ingredients that are being used to come up with illicit drinks in kenya. from formalin to methanol and they are being used indiscriminately. and the problem with kenyan drinkers is that the more potent the concotion the better it gets. but noone pauses to ponder, what's in it that is making it work so fast? and as the author put it, young men in their 20s are looking double their age. some of them are ending up mentally unstable. and the demand surges, as people's health does the opposite! i sure may not be having a quick fix but i know there's a problem here.
and my question remains, must people get drunk in such a way as to jeopardize their health?

[rmuigai]

With the current situation of hopelessness in the Country, a quick fix is wellcome. Kenyan's have been known to enjoy their drink and will drink whatever the circumstance, hata mkizima taa....I guess as long as one escapes the reality for a while it's okay, not to mention that they can't afford the legal stuff.

[waziri]

It is quite scary and traumatizing to think that our young people back home are willing to risk it all in order to get that temporary escape from the harsh realities that surrounds them. the situation seems to be moving from bad to worse if not chaotic. something needs to be done to change this type of suffering, the wananchi need to start demanding for more, they have to hold the government officials responsible. it is that simple. bad decisions and terrible policies made by people who the wananchi entrust with their lives have lead to the current situation, so just get rid of them and in their place get another bunch that is qualified to get thet job done.

[floss]

Sad state of affairs.

I think that if Breweries was run by some sharp economists they would realise;

-people will drink.

-the poor economic situ. does not allow guys to buy brand name beers (akina matusker and the like).

-make a SAFE cheap bear that guys can enjoy without slowing killing themselves.

I honestly think that ignorance and stress are the factors that are allowing this illicit business to thrive.

Although many people are vaguely aware of the dangers, the immediate high is too good to pass up-just like that other scourge called AIDS. We just dont gat enough love for ourselves to save ourselves from harm?!!?

What do y'all think?

[ngomongo]

si that is why kbl came up with citizen.it was cheaper and stronger than tusker and stuf but there is no way kbl is going to produce a beer that can compete with ilicit brews.it is impossible.education is the only answer but as u and i know there is only so much people can do in kenya. there are much more "important" issues than that.

[floss]

ngomogo

good points. but let me ask you...educate people on the dangers of illicit chemicals?? If people cant' get educated on the dangers of sex bila condom...

and anyway what about the university students who are the 'epitome' of educated peeps but often are first in line for the stuff??

I say it is pure economics. I dont think it's impossible. They just have to change their strategy.

Look at Airtran....sometimes cheap can pay off.

[rastakid]

true dat. the problem is a polyheaded beast as in we have to tackle the miseducation part of it. people need to know and understand the dangers of the practices thay're engaging in. but at times, it's not that they do not know but rather, they just do not give a rats behind-this brings about the desparation part of it and like one of us put it, even guys in unii form a good portion of the consumers.

another major one is the fact that some corrupt folks in power actually sanction the sale of these killer brews. as long aas the dealers "chota" something periodically, they'll actually be guarded to carry on their wicked bizness.
so it all comes down to economic resurgence.....more jobs less desparation, and if that cop is well paid, he's less likely to accept/seek a bribe. if that teacher is well paid, he's less likely to go to a chang'aa/kumikumi den. my hope is that come elections, we'll have people with a better vision for kenya than we've had for so long. it may not happen overnite but we can resuscitate our economy into one that gives much more hope to kenyans, or so i hope!