Punguza Kamnywezo! This is how illicit brew addicts are kicking out their bad habit

The war against illicit brew in Kinangop has intensified with a group of addicts abandoning the vice for dairy and poultry farming. Over 100 youths from Githabai village have raised Sh0.5m towards the projects as part of their income generating projects.

Speaking after meeting with members, the chair lady of the Punguza Kamnywezo Self help group, Lucy Kwamboka said the members were saving Sh50 on daily basis to help actualize the project. ''Most of us decided to come together after realizing we were being afflicted by a common problem of being hooked to the brew,'' she said.

As part of their rehabilitation programme, they decided to pool resources together before coming up with the idea of starting a self help group. Kwamboka said they were targeting to raise Sh1m before the end of the year that will enable them start off the poultry project.''We have also started a volleyball team with the main aim of attracting young people still addicted to lethal brew,'' said Kwamboka.

The chair lady said she used to sell the lethal brews including second generation liquor but has since abandoned the lucrative business. A rehabilitated John Ndegwa narrated his woes as he battled his addiction that saw him at loggerheads with family members.

''I used to sell even household goods including utensils to raise money to buy a drink. I never used to engage in any income generating activity,'' he said. Having managed to kick out the addictive habit, Ndegwa is now a happy man and works as boda boda operator. He is encouraged by the fact that he joined a group that will guarantee most of his colleagues a bright future.

The Githabai division assistant commissioner Erick Kipyegon hailed the group members for choosing to start an income generating project. He however urged them to ensure that the necessary legal procedures were followed to avoid the plundering of the raised funds.

''We shall be monitoring the activities of this group to ensure that the funds are used for the intended purposes,'' said the administrator. Kipyegon said the area was one of the hardest hit by the sale and the consumption of the second generation brews and illicit liquor.