Author
Reference
Benard.,
L., (2015): “Destroying illicit alcoholic drinks in
Central Kenya”, the safety of implementers’ and the residents. Intel Fire Group of
Companies Blog. Nairobi, Kenya.
“Destroying illicit alcoholic drinks in Central Kenya”, the safety
of implementers’ and the residents
 |
| Illicit brew in one of its processes |
In the
last few days and Friday the 3rd
of July 2015 to be precise, the Central part of Kenya has been a wash with
activities that relates to implementing a presidential directive on eliminating
all kinds of illicit brews. Not mentioning the politics that came with the
project or so we say programme as no time frame was given, the implementers who
includes senior administration officers have been working round the clock to
ensure that this operation is successful in their areas. A spot check on most
of the local media station had something to do with “destroying illicit
alcoholic drinks” from Nyeri, Kiambu, Muranga, and the likes. From the
snapshots it can be seen that illicit brews are being drained down the river,
bottles are being destroyed in the open, individuals caught taking the illicit
alcohol jumping from high roofs e.t.c are just but a few incidences of
safety not considered during the implementation of this project (as it will surely
have an ending).
The dangers
In one
of the counties in Central Kenya, again to be precise Nakuru County and in
Naivasha, the officers in Kenya’s most decorated public
institution, the National Youth Service (NYS), led in destroying the illicit brews
in the town and reported to have recovered a hideout of over 10, 000 liters of
illicit brew buried underground in a bush. The bigger question that remains is “how
should the illicit brew of such a high magnitude be destroyed without
environmental degradation?” The report based evidence shows that the recovered
illicit brews were destroyed at the points of origin and in the case in point
they were flowing into a nearby river which in turn is believed to be a tributary
of Lake Naivasha. The environmentalist will give various suggestions on the
right disposal for the brews and the debate can span to suggestions such as
draining in an open flat open ground where the evaporation process will
eventually eliminate the environmental effects.
| Illicit brew being drained in a temporary pit |
On the
other hand the young men who are seemingly motivated in the destruction of
these illicit drink bottles from many of the raided shops and dens seems to be
undertaking these operations without regards to safety of both themselves and
to the residents at the locations as bottles are broken in the open. These
broken bottles pose great danger mainly to children who either use these areas
as their path or playground or both, and also the implementers themselves. During the disposal of these glasses the
county department handling waste management are also exposed to danger during
the disposal process that may results in cuts, bruises and many related
dangers.
In
conclusion, destroying illicit alcoholic drinks in Central Kenya and indeed any
part of Kenya is a noble idea but its implementation must consider both the
environmental and human danger effects. It is true as stated by one of the
implementers that no template was provided, but it will be great that whatever
methodology is taken into account to implement the project, it should include
safety measures, again both to the environment and humans (implementers and
residents).
The Author is a Research Generalist in Projects Management Specializing
in Safety Service Delivery
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