A former illicit brewer in Kirinyaga County, Kenya, has turned his life around after years of evading arrest and bribing police officers to continue making makabo, a traditional brew. Eliud Kinyua, now 40, spent years sleeping in bushes to avoid capture, but one incorruptible chief ultimately led him to change his ways.
After serving a three-month jail sentence in 2018, Kinyua decided to abandon illegal brewing and pursue farming. However, his transformation came at a cost—his wife left him, forcing him to raise their two sons alone.
Determined to rebuild his life, he started farming tomatoes, maize, sweet potatoes, and collard greens. His efforts have paid off, earning him over Sh100,000 every three months. He has also opened a shop and is building a concrete house.
Kinyua credits his success to the relentless chief who urged him to pursue legal work. Reflecting on his past, he vows never to return to illegal activities and remains focused on securing a better future for his children.