Machakos, Kenya
More than 50 Kenyan villagers died this week after drinking a bad batch of home-brewed liquor. Kenyans who can’t afford beer often drink changa’a, an illegal spirit made from corn, molasses, and methanol, an industrial alcohol used in antifreeze. Police said the brewer must have added too much methanol, rendering the brew poisonous. Hundreds are believed to have sampled the toxic batch; dozens are recovering in the local hospital. “Some of them are blind, some of them are very weak,” Kenyan television reported, “and nearly all of them are dehydrated.” Parliament will soon consider whether to legalize changa’a, a move proponents say would lead to higher production standards.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
‘Security is no longer a function only of missiles and fighter jets’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
2 MLB pitchers charged with rigging throws for betsSpeed Read Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have been indicted
-
USDA orders states to ‘undo’ full SNAP paymentsSpeed Read The Trump administration is telling states not to pay full November food stamp benefits
