Residents demonstrate in support of brewer

Residents of Runyenjes Town on Wednesday took to the streets to show their support for a local brewing firm that has been in the centre of a row between its owner and area politicians.

The residents who rode on motorbikes and waved placards expressed their anger at the town’s authorities’ perceived harassment of investors saying it was unfair as the investors have been a great help to the community.

They presented their petitions to the offices of the county administrator and the Member of Parliament seeking the protection of local and foreign investors in the town.

One of the residents, Fatuma Mzee asked the authorities to let investors go about their business in peace adding that they brought employment opportunities to the women and the youth.

“It is time leaders allow investors in Runyenjes to do their work with minimal interference. These investors that you keep chasing around have brought employment opportunities to the youth and women of this town,” she said Fatuma.

This comes in the backdrop of a countrywide crackdown on illicit and second-generational brews that began last year after President Uhuru Kenyatta banned all second generation brews in the country.

President Kenyatta however urged youths and leaders to ensure that hooliganism is not practiced in the war against illicit brews.

At the height of the crackdown last year, the Kenya Bureau of Standards published a list of breweries that had been licensed to brew alcoholic drinks and that had adhered to the set standards.

Since the crackdown began millions of litres of illicit brew have been destroyed and tens of people arrested after being linked or found in possession of the banned substances.