Six people have reportedly died and five others gone blind after allegedly consuming illicit liquor in Kirinyaga.
Kirinyaga Health CEC George Karoki said from the kind of symptoms being exhibited by the victims, it appears the illicit brew contained ethanol.
"The type of symptoms and signs that are very exhibiting themselves from these particular patients have shown that they were having blurred vision, they could not see well," he said.
Ethanol can immediately damage the nervous system, including the eye nerves, upon consumption.
Initially, it causes inflammation followed by the death of nervous system tissue which can cause blindness and lead to death.
Karoki added that the chemical also has propensity to cause liver cirrhosis, the permanent scarring that damages liver and interferes with its functioning.
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