Written by Joyce Nzomo
A single mother of three has been fined Sh10,000 after pleading guilty to selling illicit brew in the Kiang’ombe area of Kiganjo, Thika.
Pauline N. was arrested on July 3 and appeared before the Thika Law Courts the following day, where she was charged with possession of chang’aa, an illegal traditional liquor banned under Kenyan law.
According to the prosecution, Pauline was found with five litres of the brew after area chief Simon Kimani, who was on patrol, received a tip-off from members of the public.
Acting on the report, the chief raided her home where the illicit liquor was allegedly found.
She did not contest the charges and pleaded guilty. When asked to speak before sentencing, she told the court she had resorted to brewing chang’aa out of desperation, saying she was struggling to support her children, one of whom is in high school.
“I have tried other ways to make ends meet,” she said. “But nothing worked. I only did this to feed my family.”
The presiding magistrate acknowledged her difficult circumstances but questioned her decision to break the law.
“You knew this was illegal,” the magistrate said. “Yet you still chose to engage in it.”
Njage was fined Sh10,000 or, in default, will serve three months in prison. The court also ordered the immediate destruction of the seized brew.
The case adds to a growing number of women being drawn into the illicit liquor trade amid rising economic pressures in informal settlements.
