London-Based Kenyan Bonnie Wesh Takes On Illicit Brews in Kiambu

London-based Kenyan businessman Bonnie Wesh has launched a campaign against illicit alcohol as he seeks the Nachu Ward MCA seat in Kiambu County.

Wesh is using a petition to county and national authorities, including the Ministry of Interior and security agencies, to demand action against the spread of illicit brews in the ward. The petition is being circulated online and through physical signature collection.

“This petition is not about politics. It is about saving Nachu people,” Wesh said, stressing that the campaign was focused on the safety of residents rather than the election.

The campaign follows recent deaths in Nachu Ward that residents believe could be linked to illicit alcohol. Wesh cited the death of a young man in Kanyayo and another subsequent death as cases that should be investigated.

He acknowledged that there is no conclusive evidence that earlier government intervention could have prevented the deaths. However, he said warnings from residents should be taken seriously before more lives are lost.

Wesh also criticised what he described as difficulties in reaching senior government officials. He said he attempted to alert authorities on 18 August about alleged distribution networks in the ward but encountered inaccessible offices and strict administrative procedures.

“If leaders’ doors had been opened, probably something could have been done to prevent the loss of that young soul,” he said.

He has called for more responsive channels through which communities can report urgent threats, arguing that local concerns require timely action. Wesh has also criticised elected leaders for what he considers inadequate engagement with residents. He has urged officials to spend more time in communities rather than relying mainly on committees and formal meetings.

He said effective leadership requires listening to residents, identifying problems on the ground and coordinating rapid responses. Wesh said he had raised the deaths with the current MCA, Father George Kimani, and nominated MCA Lawrence Wainaina, but was dissatisfied with their responses.

“I may be ignored, but it is not me being ignored. It is the people of Nachu,” he said.

Although Wesh is contesting the MCA seat, he maintains that the campaign against illicit brews should not be viewed solely as an electoral issue. He has called for cooperation between residents, government agencies and community organisations to address alcohol abuse.

Wesh said illicit brews have affected members of his family, friends and peers, making the issue personal as well as a community concern.

“Who will I reminisce our childhood stories with if my agemates die due to illicit brews?” he asked.

Despite living in London, Wesh says he has maintained close ties with Nachu. He has operated an online community platform for the ward for 15 years, which he says now has more than 35,000 members.

The platform provides a forum for residents to discuss development, infrastructure, healthcare, youth affairs and accountability. Wesh says these issues are closely connected to the wider challenges facing the community.

The petition is intended to demonstrate residents’ support for action and put pressure on authorities to respond. Wesh accepts that online signatures may not have formal weight with some institutions, which is why he is also collecting signatures physically. He said the campaign was ultimately about preventing further deaths and ensuring that government action comes before more families suffer losses.

“When a mother buries her child, a policy document cannot bring that child back. When a woman loses her husband, a committee meeting cannot restore her family,” he said.