Four suspects, who were arraigned at the Kigumo Law Courts on Monday, January 27, are receiving treatment at the Maragua Sub-County Hospital after consuming concentrated chang’aa while aboard a police van.
The four were en route to Murang’a Prison, where they were to be detained as their cases pended in court.
They had earlier Monday been arraigned for different offences, and while being taken to prison at around 6pm, they drank all the chang’aa that had been carried in the police van.
The alcohol was to be produced in court as exhibit for a different case.
The four suspects are: David Murigi, Peter Ngugi, George Muiruri and Joseph Murimi.
Police say the four were in the back of the van, whereas the law enforcement officers, who were escorting them to remand prison, were in the driver’s compartment when the suspects drank the chang’aa.
Police say upon reaching the prison, and going to the back of the van to open the door for the suspects, they found all of them lying unconscious.
Murang’a Prison administrators refused to have the four remanded in the facility in that state.
The four were, thereafter, taken to Saba Saba Police Station. They, however, did not regain consciousness, forcing police to take them to Saba Saba Health Centre, where they were given emergency treatment.
The suspects were, later Monday, transferred to Maragua Sub-County Hospital for advanced treatment.
Doctors at the medical facility say three of the four patients are still unconscious as of Tuesday.
A report of the incident was filed at Saba Saba Police Station by Murang’a Court orderly Nicholas Tuwei and corporal Brian Wafula, who is attached to the police post.
