Kumi Kumi

Kumi Kumi ("from Swahili 'kumi' for 'ten"') is an illegal liquor brewed in Kenya from sorghum, maize or millet. The cheap, widely-brewed drink grows in popularity among the lower classes and disadvantaged of the region, as the economy and the value of the shilling decline. Kumi Kumi is known for its exceptional alcohol content. The brew is often doctored in unsafe and poisonous ways, and its regular abuse frequently has resulted in alcohol poisoning related hospitalizations, blindness, and death. [cite web|author=Nicholas Ngolyo|title=Daily Nation On the Web:Six in court on brew death charges.|url=http://www.nationaudio.com/News/DailyNation/23112000/News/News42.html|date=Nov. 23, 2000| |accessdate=2006-09-10 ]

Kumi Kumi is so named for its cheap price, Sh10 for a mug, which in 2006 comes to roughly US$0.15. Legal beers usually cost around Sh65. [cite web|author=|title=People's Daily Online:Over 20 people die after consuming illegal brew in Kenya|url=http://english.people.com.cn/200506/26/eng20050626_192386.html|date=June 26, 2005| |accessdate=2006-09-10 ]

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