I grew up in a very poor neighborhood of Kitale in my early years. You wake up very early in the morning to walk to school and come across drunk men and women laying unconsciously along footpaths or inside muddy ditches. This was a normal phenomenon.
People from far away places gathered together every Sundays for some Chang'aa and Busaa shots from one of the famous Joints of an Old Lady by the name NAVUMBO. She was known the region over for her prowess and skill behind the Chang'aa steam engines. The quality of her brew judging by the number of customers who visited her, I could tell,was great. Here was an old woman making a living to support her huge extended family. The former president actually was surprised and impressed by her story.
Chang'aa and Busaa are our traditional brews. Our ancestors ensured that the recipe and the right way of making them was passed down over the generations and to tell you the truth, they did not dissapoint.
These drinks are a source of livelihood for the people who make them. The income from these sales feed their children,provide shelter,education and clothing for them. It makes economic sense to have it sold in this country.
It saddens me when we see or hear of people dying and going blind for drinking this alleged brew. I never heard our grand fathers dying, going blind, becoming drunks or useless people of society. They embraced it as a celebratory instrument where people came together to share and partake.
Our youth have a responsibility of nurturing themselves. Stop putting blame on the government and the trusted traditional brewers for your misery and drunkenness. Grow up!!
Chang'aa and Busaa brews are an economic taste of traditional Kenya. We need the government to put in place strict measures that will oversee this industry's activities that might endanger human lives and health.
Think about this: "I grew up around Chang'aa and Busaa but not even once did I drink them".
I made a decision and I stood by it. My life is a testimony that life is all about choices. So don't blame anybody for your misery and drunkenness friends.
People from far away places gathered together every Sundays for some Chang'aa and Busaa shots from one of the famous Joints of an Old Lady by the name NAVUMBO. She was known the region over for her prowess and skill behind the Chang'aa steam engines. The quality of her brew judging by the number of customers who visited her, I could tell,was great. Here was an old woman making a living to support her huge extended family. The former president actually was surprised and impressed by her story.
Chang'aa and Busaa are our traditional brews. Our ancestors ensured that the recipe and the right way of making them was passed down over the generations and to tell you the truth, they did not dissapoint.
These drinks are a source of livelihood for the people who make them. The income from these sales feed their children,provide shelter,education and clothing for them. It makes economic sense to have it sold in this country.
It saddens me when we see or hear of people dying and going blind for drinking this alleged brew. I never heard our grand fathers dying, going blind, becoming drunks or useless people of society. They embraced it as a celebratory instrument where people came together to share and partake.
Our youth have a responsibility of nurturing themselves. Stop putting blame on the government and the trusted traditional brewers for your misery and drunkenness. Grow up!!
Chang'aa and Busaa brews are an economic taste of traditional Kenya. We need the government to put in place strict measures that will oversee this industry's activities that might endanger human lives and health.
Think about this: "I grew up around Chang'aa and Busaa but not even once did I drink them".
I made a decision and I stood by it. My life is a testimony that life is all about choices. So don't blame anybody for your misery and drunkenness friends.
Great and undeniably true!! Make a choice!
ReplyDeleteThe Government of Kenya should legalize Busaa production and Trade. I and many youths of our age grew up and were educated with money from busaa trade up to university level and up to now I have never known its disadvantages. In comparison to other alcoholic beverages, busaa has very low alcohol level(about 5%), just like many other beers.Its consumption is not known to be injurious to human being more than beer or other alcoholic beverages. It is the quality and hygiene of preparing it which should be controlled by Public Health Officials. The yeast in busaa contains vitamins and other food nutrients which are good for the body. Busaa itself is rich in energy and proteins .I therefore feel that if the Government can control the quality of busaa production then it should be fully allowed and licensed. This is a great potential to create jobs for the youth and improve household incomes for many rural families.
ReplyDeletePius O Ombaka, Kisumu