Alcohol killing Abim residents
Mar 22, 2009
OVER 70 people in Abim district have died in the last two months due to excessive consumption of alcohol.
By Olandason Wanyama
OVER 70 people in Abim district have died in the last two months due to excessive consumption of alcohol.
The LC5 chairman, Norman Ochero, last week said autopsy reports indicated that the digestive systems of the victims were severely burnt with ethanol and methanol.
“People start drinking early in the morning,†he said.
“What is most worrying is the frequency of such deaths. The district has been forced to come up with by-laws to control the consumption of the gin, locally known as torotoro,†Ochero said.
He said consuming alcohol during working hours was now an offence.
“Penalties have been weak. That is why the district council had to design new by-laws to reduce consumption,†Ochero added.
Recently, the district court sentenced 13 medical workers and two civil servants to one month of community service for having been found drunk on duty.
The medical workers will clean the hospital compound, Ochero said, adding that such punishments would deter others.
The district Police commander, Eddie Kulany, said he recently received instructions to arrest waragi (gin) dealers.
OVER 70 people in Abim district have died in the last two months due to excessive consumption of alcohol.
The LC5 chairman, Norman Ochero, last week said autopsy reports indicated that the digestive systems of the victims were severely burnt with ethanol and methanol.
“People start drinking early in the morning,†he said.
“What is most worrying is the frequency of such deaths. The district has been forced to come up with by-laws to control the consumption of the gin, locally known as torotoro,†Ochero said.
He said consuming alcohol during working hours was now an offence.
“Penalties have been weak. That is why the district council had to design new by-laws to reduce consumption,†Ochero added.
Recently, the district court sentenced 13 medical workers and two civil servants to one month of community service for having been found drunk on duty.
The medical workers will clean the hospital compound, Ochero said, adding that such punishments would deter others.
The district Police commander, Eddie Kulany, said he recently received instructions to arrest waragi (gin) dealers.