Drinkers died of methanol poisoning

Methanol poisoning killed 94 people who consumed illegal alcohol in six counties last week, initial laboratory results have confirmed.

Cabinet Secretary James Macharia who is scheduled to give a detailed report of the tests today, told the Nation on Sunday that samples from Kitui, Embu, Makueni, Muranga and Nairobi showed varying levels of the chemical.

A source at the Government Chemist, who cannot be named because she is not authorised to speak to media, confirmed that some of the sampled alcoholic drinks contained “dangerously high” levels of methanol.

The lethal brands and companies that manufacture them will also be identified by the Health Secretary on Sunday.

Some of the alcoholic sampled  did not have labels for their trade name, making it difficult to ascertain their manufacturers, Mr Macharia said.

Once investigations are complete,  the Health ministry and  other concerned government departments and ministries would take action on the suppliers, he said.

Methanol is a type of alcohol used in industries that is not fit for human consumption.