A Meru man from Kambakia area in North Imenti has died after consuming a suspected ethanol residue siphoned from industrial drums that had been delivered during the Farmers Field Day for use as cattle feeding troughs, police have said.
Imenti North Sub-county Police Commander Ambrose Kyalo said the deceased, identified as Martin Muriki alias Mauru, was among several people who collected the liquid from the drums after colleague workers discovered the containers still had a substance with a strong alcoholic smell.
According to police, the drums had been delivered on July 24 ahead of the Annual Farmers’ Field Day, where they were to be cut into halves and converted into feeding troughs.
Kyalo said workers tasked with cutting the drums removed the remaining liquid before taking it home in small containers after suspecting it was alcohol.
“They recovered between five litres and more from the drums. Since July 24, they have been consuming the substance, which we suspect to be ethanol,” Kyalo said.
Kyalo said Muriki had kept about five litres of the substance and reportedly shared it sparingly while consuming most of it himself.
“I am told that he was so selfish with the substance, he was consuming and sharing the substance selfishly,” Kyalo.
On Thursday morning, he reportedly complained to his wife that he could not see daylight despite it being morning, an indication that he had lost his eyesight.
“He asked his wife why there was no sunlight. She was shocked because he had apparently lost his sight. He had also not eaten because he had fallen ill,” Kyalo said.
Muriki was rushed to a hospital in Nkubu where he later died while receiving treatment.
The police commander said 13 other people who had consumed the same substance later presented themselves at Kambakia Police Station complaining of blurred vision, tongue discolouration and other symptoms.
They were referred to Consolata Gitoro Mission Hospital in Makutano for treatment and observation.
Police have handed the case to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), which has launched investigations into the incident.
The remaining suspected ethanol was recovered from the deceased brother and has been taken into police custody for laboratory analysis to establish its composition.
Kyalo cautioned members of the public against consuming unknown substances, warning that the practice is dangerous and could prove fatal.
“It is reckless and very risky to consume substances whose contents are unknown. Members of the public must desist from such behaviour,” he said.
He also urged parents to remain vigilant during the school holidays, warning that children and students at home could easily be exposed to such harmful substances if they are not properly supervised.
Edited by John majau
