Changaa facts for kids

Changaa, also spelled Chang'aa, is a traditional alcoholic drink from Kenya. It's made by local brewers through a process called fermentation and distillation. This drink uses grains like millet, maize (corn), and sorghum. It is known for being quite strong.

Rules for Changaa

For many years, Changaa was against the law in Kenya. However, in 2010, the Kenyan government made it legal. This was done to help make sure the drink was made safely. Before, some people would add harmful chemicals to make it stronger, which was very dangerous.

Now, there are rules to keep people safe. Changaa must be made and sold in glass bottles. Shops that sell it must also put up signs that warn about health risks. It is still against the law to sell Changaa to anyone under 18 years old. It also cannot be sold from vending machines. If someone makes or sells Changaa that has harmful things added, they can face serious trouble.

How Changaa is Made and Sold

In some city areas, the making and selling of Changaa used to be controlled by criminal groups. These groups would demand money from brewers for "protection." However, in other parts of the country, traditional brewers still make it. In the past, illegally made Changaa could be bought for a very low price, sometimes around US$0.20 to US$0.40 for a glass.

Where the Name "Chang'aa" Came From

The name Chang'aa became popular in the 1950s. There's a story about how it got its name.

Long ago, women from the Kano area near Kisumu used to carry fresh milk in pots to sell in the city. At that time, the government had banned a local drink called Pelele. So, these women would hide Pelele in their milk pots to sell it secretly.

One day, a white police officer had been told about the secret selling of Pelele. He stopped the women who were selling milk on the road to check their pots. One of the pots had Pelele instead of milk.

The policeman told the women to line up all their pots by the road. He then asked, "Maziwa ya nani?" This means "Whose milk is this?" in Swahili.

An interpreter repeated the question in the Dholuo language, saying "Ma Chag ng'a?" This also means "Whose milk is this?"

Because of this, the policeman accused the women of carrying and selling Chang'aa. This is how the name Chang'aa is said to have started.

Images for kids

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  Changaa being made