An elderly couple died in Kitale on Friday after they learnt that their fifth-born son had died.
Mr Kamau Macharia, 95, and his wife Margaret Njeri, 85, collapsed and died after they were informed of their son’s death after taking chang’aa.
According to Milimani location chief Sylvester Mumanyi, Mr Joseph Munyoro, 45, had been invited by a friend to a brewing den in Kambi Nyasi before he drowned in Naisambu River.
The den is 200 metres away from the parents’ home.
The chief said that the mother, who first received information about the death of her son, collapsed and was taken to Mt Elgon Hospital, where she died.
The husband, who got information about the deaths, also collapsed and died.
Mr Mumanyi said the legalisation of traditional brews will result in an increase in crime and deaths.
Kitale deputy mayor Hebert Wambaya, who is also the area councillor, sent condolences to the family and appealed to the government and MPs to formulate laws to regulate the consumption of traditional brews.
Contacted for comment, Trans Nzoia West district commissioner Wilfred Kinyua cautioned residents against excessive consumption of traditional brews, saying they risked drowning following heavy rains in the region.
The old man’s body was moved to the Mt Elgon Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem
Ms Easter Waithera, 50, said her brother, who was a watchman at a coffee research in Kitale, was invited to drink beer by a friend and never returned home.
Fetch father’s shoes
His body was found in the river on Sunday by his friend’s daughter, who had gone to fetch her father’s shoes that got stuck in the water the previous night.
The girl informed the father and the family, who later went to the scene and established that the dead man was indeed Mr Munyoro.
They later learnt that he died after failing to cross the river.
“We were forced to postpone the burial of my brother Munyoro, scheduled for Monday, after mother died on the same day.
The second burial, which was to take place on Thursday, was pushed ahead as father died on Thursday” Ms Waithera said.
Source: Daily Nation
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