24 November 2000 Use this version to print At least 137 people have died in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi after drinking an alcoholic brew laced with methanol. A further 500 people are in hospitals across the capital, with some in a serious condition, and there are reports that 20 people have gone blind.
Methanol is an industrial alcohol used in the manufacture of dyes and anti-freeze.
It is a highly poisonous substance and as little as 30 millilitres is enough to kill a person, with 10 millilitres being enough to cause blindness. Those who died suffered respiratory paralysis or liver failure. There are numerous illegal drinking dens scattered around the slum areas of Nairobi, where the liquor can be bought at a fraction of the cost of highly taxed beers and spirits. Most of these dens are run by widows who rely on the revenue to live, and who compete with each other over who can offer the most powerful brew. This latest incident is one of a growing number in Kenya.