Four police officers have been arraigned over the theft of killer illicit killer brew that claimed the lives of 17 people in Kirinyaga.

The officers have been charged with allegedly stealing the killer illicit brew. Among the arrested is Kennedy Mugambi the former officer commanding station at Kiamaciri station.

They are accused of stealing the brew and selling it to A trader at Ksh 20,000 who in return repackaged and sold it to the residents of Kangai village where 17 lives were lost.

Mugambi and his colleagues Allan Kiamazi, Brian Kariuki, and Francis Muteithie, allegedly broke into a store at the Kiamaciri station and stole the exhibit which they then sold to the trader of California Bar.

They were arraigned in Baricho court, where the prosecution asked the court for more time to conclude investigations. Senior Magistrate Stephen Nyaga allowed police to detain them at the Kirinyaga police station for 15 more days. Once the investigations are done the four will be charged with stealing exhibits, conspiracy to commit a felony and defeating justice.

Apart from the 17 deaths,  several people were blinded after consuming the illicit brew.

Following the incident county commissioner of Kirinyaga Tobiko Naiyoma and all the senior security have been recalled back to Nairobi to allow further investigations into the matter.

The fight against the illicit brew in the Mount Kenya region has been spearheaded by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and the chief executive officer of NACADA Dr Antony Omerikwa.  They vowed tough measures against government officers indulging in the venture.

Vice president is expected back in Kirinyaga on Saturday for a joint mass burial of those who succumbed after consumption of the illicit brew.

“I was given this job of fighting illicit brews but some people thought it was a small job. Now it has claimed people’s lives,” Gachagua said on Sunday.