(COMPREHENSION, LITERARY APPRECIATION AND GRAMMAR)

The KCSE English paper 101/2 has three main parts of:
Examples 1
Reading the following passage one answer the questions that follow.

Let us face it ; we were not called peculiar for no reason .We do have a unique way of
doing things in Kenya , especially in the capital, Nairobi .Most of the things happen
elsewhere across the world , but they tend to look like imports from Kenya.
When you are in a private car, you almost want to burst a nerve when you see a matatu
overlapping, and then disappearing in seconds. When you are in a public service vehicle, you
are usually praying for the matatu driver to overlap. When a matatu driver follows the rules, you
usually look at him with the “you are useless and not worthy of the title ‘matatu driver’ look. You
curse him especially if other matatus are not doing the same .You even wonder what kind of a
driver he is that he does not know the shortcuts –Right?
When he appears to be about to break the rules, You jump in joy and , 10 minutes
later when you reach your destination , you cannot help but smile , wondering how far back
you would be if you were driving. But that is if you do not meet traffic policemen who – give
matatus the same look men give to beautiful girls. They start drooling at the sight of them
, and they cannot help out approach them from behind , wondering what to do once
they get to them. Small talk ensures, which is, of course , the ice breaker .The cop then
goes round, admiring the vehicle , has a tete- a- tete with te driver , and therefore long , he is
waving the car good bye with a smile.
We love to hate this people, matatu drivers but for most of us, who have used or not
used their services, how much you hate them depends on the situation you are in.
And no, This is not an ode to these drivers , it’s just one of those things that make
Nairobi , well, Nairobi .They have the guts to do those things you would do if you had the
power to freeze time and the all the activity apart from your own .And as more PSV users
acquire their own private cars , you can see that they have learnt something from matatu
drivers.
These are the drivers who cannot give way unless you force your way in, and even
then, they will still try to see if they have enough room to go through .They wait for a car to
overlap , then follow behind it ,even foreigners do this , perhaps from the experience with
these guys , who literally own the roads in Nairobi and flout the rules whenever they can.
But this takes experience. If you are driving and no matatu is flouting the rules, then stay
in your line. Matatus never follow the rules at will and you will shortly realize why they are
being good; there is a policeman in the vicinity.
Even as “side eye” matatu drivers have you seem those who park in the middle - of a
highway to go to the club ? Waiyaki way and Langata road during the weekend are a sight
to behold as Kenyans do three - point turns in the middle of the highway just so that they
can get into the popular club of the moment.
Watching drunkards weave their way to their cars in the Wee hours of the morning
is proof that God loves his children .If you have watched the drunkards , mostly in pairs
, stop in the middle of the road to look for their car keys or receive a call , then you know
what I am talking about .

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 It is like watching the road .Runners or Tom and Jerry because it is fantasy staff;
even people with death wish would not be bold .
(Adopted from Daily nation April 27, 2012).
a) What is the relationship between matatu drivers and the drivers of privatecars?
(2mks)
b) What is your attitude towards police men as portrayed in this passage (2mks)
c) Make notes on the absurdity of the drunks as described in the story. (4
marks)
d) Re-write the following statement in its inverted form .
“You are useless and not worthy of the title.” (1marks)
e) Identify 2 instances of irony in this passage. (4 marks)

f) Why were we called peculiar according to paragraph 1 of this passage (2marks)

g) The writer seems to condemn some vices, in the passage .Identify any two. (2
marks)
h) Explain the meaning of the following words and phrases as used in the passage
(3mks)
i. Wee hour.
ii. Ice breaker
iii. Tete – a - tete

Marking scheme Example 1

1)
a) The owners of private cars flout (Break traffic rules just like matatu drivers).
b) Spiteful/ hateful/ satirical etc. because they take bribes and allow drivers to flout
traffic rules.
c) - Parks in the middle of the road togo to a club.
- Make them -point turns in the middle of the highway.
- Stop at the middle of the road to look for their car keys.
- Receives calls from the middle of the road.
e) i) Passengers who blame matatu drivers for overlapping also do so when they drive
private cars .
ii) To the passengers, a driver who does not break traffic rules is a bad one.
f) We were called peculiar because we do things in a unique way.
g) Vices include:

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 i) Breaking of traffic rules e.g by psv drivers .
ii) Drunkenness e.g. by the drunks .
iii) Corruption e.g. the police takes bribes.
h) i) Very early in the morning / dawn / very late in the night
ii) Solutions /relievers.
iii) Private / secret conversation.

Example 2
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.
Water remains a precious and indispensable commodity that controls all human activities and
indeed, determines our destiny. There is no life without water. In fact, the old adage that
equates water to life is unquestionable. But how will you use it if this priceless commodity is not
well harvested and stored? How can it be that the same “life” commodity is contaminated due to
poor storage solutions?

Poor water storage mechanisms have been identified as among the causes of sanitation
problems and unhygienic practices, mostly witnessed in developing countries.

An-estimated 41 per cent of the Kenyan population lives without access to safe drinking water,
and relies mainly on unprotected wells, springs or informal water providers like water kiosks and
vendors. More worrying is the fact that the quality of this water-is questionable.

But thanks to Top Tank, a division of Tile & Carpet Centre, safe water storage and enhanced
sanitation is in sight.

Established in 2007 due to the demand for reliable water storage solutions the country; Top
Tank has been in the forefront in promoting safe and hygienic water storage solutions.

The company manufactures tanks in various shapes and sizes ranging from 100- litre capacity
to 24,000-litre capacity using the rotational moulding process.

“Our tanks are of the highest quality and creative designs, durable and cost-effective. We use
food-grade polyethylene in the manufacturing process as it ensures safety” says Kushal
Sanghrajka from’ Top Tank Division.

They-are also made with double layers as standard, ensuring the tanks are strong yet flexible
enough to maintain quality as well as withstand extreme weather conditions.

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Our tanks are hard yet elastic to help prevent cracks either when it is too hot or too cold. This
way, they can expand and contract without exerting pressure that causes cracks” he explains
In addition, the inside surface hears white or light colour allowing for any dirt in the water to be
easily spotted.

Top Tank is the first company in Africa to manufacture antimicrobial tanks, which contain a
special orange coating that prevents growth of micro organisms so that stored water remains
clean, “The ant-microbial compound- ensures that water is safe and can be stored for long
without any risks” adds Kushal. Because of its reliability and durability, Top Tank storage
products are now part of many households across the country. With the booming real estate
sector in the country the tanks have also become a common sight at construction sites either for
storage of construction water or being installed in new buildings.

However, Top tank’s products are not limited to the construction and real estate industries. Their
products are also suitable for agricultural, commercial and industrial use. In fact, they have even
included conical hoppers as part .of their product range to provide a storage solution for grains
and powders.

Top tanks water tanks come m a variety of models and sizes, as well as- colours. You can find
tanks suitable for both loft and underground installation, or even just a typical cylindrical tank
Chances are that you’ll be able to find just the tank you need through their multitude of
configurations.

“We try and cater to all water storage needs” states Mr. Kushal, as he explains how they
introduced a roller drum water tank, to make transportation of water easier for the people in rural
areas.
“Some people travel several kilometres carrying water tanks on their backs. Why should such a
necessity be so difficult to take from one place to another? Wouldn’t it be much easier if the’
could just drag the tank like a wheel?” asked Mr. Kushal. It must also be noted that they also
produce a number of non-water related products such as traffic cones, flower buckets, garbage
bins, cooler boxes etc.
The tanks are available countrywide through their strong distribution network or leading
hardware Stores, supermarkets etc. They are also available for online purchase
atwiar.toptank.com.

“We have a major distribution point in every major town across the country including remote
areas. Through these channels, we reach out to rural areas and save many from water
shortages.”

Top Tank has also introduced a new website platform where customers can access information
about their products via their computer or mobile phone, and purchase products online using M-
Pesa, Airtel Money or credit card. With rain water harvesting becoming the common way of

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boosting the country’s water security, Top Tank is here to offer a convenient harvesting and
storage solution that will in the long run contribute to the country’s water security;

“The raw materials we use in manufacturing enable the tanks to store water for long without any
contaminations.”

Our products are approved by the Kenya Bureau of Standards and have the Diamond Mark of
Quality that reflects excellent quality and performance, notes Mr. Kushal
1. Why is water vital for human existence? (1mk
2. Explain the significance of the rhetorical questions in paragraph one. (2mks)
3. How can a household acquire a Top tank? (2mks)
4. Makes notes on why the Top tank is preferable for water storage. (6mks)
5. Poor water storage mechanisms have been identified as among the causes of sanitation
problemsandunhygienicpractises(rewrite
(1mk)this
6.sentenceinState
theactive
thewriters
voice)attitudetowardstoptankand
supportyouranswer. (2mks)
7. With the booming real estate sector in the country, the tanks have also become a
common sight at construction sites either for storage of construction water or being installed in
new buildings. (Paraphrase this sentence) (2mks)
8. Give the meaning of the following words and phrases as used in the passage. (4mks)
a.)Indispensable.
b)Booming
c) A roller drum.
d) Common sight.

Marking Scheme example 2

1. Water is vital for human existence since it controls all human activities and determines
our destiny. (1mk)
2. The rhetorical questions make the reader(s) critically see the significance of harvesting
water, storing it well (2mks)
3. A household can acquire to tank through distributors or leading hardware stores,
supermarkets (any 2)
4. -Their shapes and sizes range from 100-24000 litres capacity
- Are of the highest quality and creative designs
- Are durable

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 - Cost effective
- Make use of good- grade polyethylene in the manufacturing process and ensures
safety.
- Are made with double layers as standard, ensuring the tanks are strong, yet flexible.
- Are hard yet elastic to help prevent cracks either when it is too hot or too cold.
- The inside surface bears white or light colour allowing for any dirt in the water to be
easily spotted. (any 6)
5. People/ we/ many household have identified poor water storage mechanisms as among
the causes of sanitation problems and
(1mk)
unhygienic practices.
6. Appreciate the talks positively about the top tanks and why households should have
them. Thanks to top tank. Top tank has been in the forefront in promoting safe and hygienic
water storage solutions.
7. With the flourishing real estate sector in the nation the tanks are frequent at building
sites either for keeping
(2mks)
of building water or being fixed in new structures.
(Change at least 4 words and phrases)
8. - Vital/ important
- Growing/ flourishing
- A tank that can be rolled on the ground
- Frequent.

Example 3
Read the passage below and then answer the questions that follow.

Playing with her grandpa during her recent birthday, little Chhay, Ishan’s daughter, probably had
no way of comprehending that the older Kapila had just received the greatest honor a lawyer
might expect from his colleagues.
But not long before the unassuming Acchroo Ram Kapila had been awarded the Law
Society of Kenya Honors Award in an inaugural ceremony that saw him heading the Roll of
Honor that will, in years to come, bear the names of lawyers whose careers will have been
adjudged exemplary in many ways.
“As I listened to the Chairman’s speech, reciting the highlights of my life, they seemed to
belong to another age, events so remote that, to the present generation, I must seem like a
fossil or a dinosaur, of curious interest only to students of archeology or prehistory,” Mr. Kapila
had quipped in his acceptance speech.
“Now my life is complete,” he said in his perennially hilarious manner.
“Now would be the perfect moment to announce my retirement. But I know that I would
change my mind the moment the next challenging brief comes along. Besides, I am enjoying
practicing with my two sons, Sheetal and Ishan, far too much to even think of retirement!”

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 Teasing his audience about the possibility of being able to read his memoirs soon, he
said: “You can leave your deposits at the desk outside the door, as you leave; to secure your
advance autographed copies. All I want to say (now) is that I have wonderful memories (of
times) full of excitement, hope and exhilaration, although I am sure at the time these were brief
interludes during long days, months and years of frustration, exhaustion, trepidation and
frequently depression.
Neither given to bragging nor moaning, Mr. Kapila was making the understatement of
the year, and the highs and lows of his lengthy and distinguished career will probably only
become salient when he eventually writes his memoirs.
It was a carrier that saw him rise to prominence by sheer accident, driven on by unusual
courage that found him rolling in a car in the course of duty, facing terrible racial discrimination
and even doing time at the Kamiti Maximum Security Prison. It also saw those close to him
suffering because of his works, especially in the so called political cases, which resulted in
subtle police harassment.
But if Mr. Kapila in his 50 years plus of legal work made enemies with the high and mighty and
had to bear with the ensuing persecution, he certainly also had the joy and honor of rubbing
shoulders and working with some of the most memorable figures in the struggle to end
oppression everywhere.
Among people he remembers fondly are the late J.M. Kariuki and Tom Mboya, as well
as early heroes of Kenya’s freedom struggle like legendary Jesse Kariuki, and numerous others
he represented before and after the Kapenguria trial.
In a career that saw him working closely with APA Pant, Julius Nyerere, the late Joseph
Murumbi and the legendary lawyer Dennis Prit; there were probably more highs than lows.
Today, as Mr. Kapila plays either golf or the sitar, some of his greater passions, he should
reminisce about tales to tell his daughters-in-law Naseem and Karan who proudly refer to him
as “papa” – about the long and eventful journey his whole life has been.
During the recent awards, Mr. Kapila was described thus by LSK Chairman Nzamba Kitonga:
“He is an example, a visionary, a sage, possessed of dignity, clarity of thought, diligence and
the gift of articulation, he has prime qualities of a lawyer, wit, honesty, integrity, ability and
courage.”
Unfortunately people with such qualities are extremely modest and self-effacing, and it was
probably only politeness that stopped Mr. Kapila from using the words of his old friend Dennis
Pritt to tell Kitonga: “I don’t like too much praise – I find it really as bad as too much alcohol.”
CIUGU MWAGIRU
From The Daily Nation, 22nd March, 1998

Questions
(a) Name the greatest award that a lawyer can get from his colleagues in this country. (1mk)
(b) Who was the first lawyer to get this award? (1mk)
(c) Describe Kapila’s character as depicted in this passage. (4mks)
(d) Why does the author think that in Kapila’s career there were probably more highs than
lows?(4mks)

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(e) Describe the author’s attitude towards Kapila. (2mks)
(f) Identify one simile in this passage and explain its meaning. (2mks)
(g) Comment on Kapila’s statement “Now my life is complete.” (2mks)
(h) Give the meaning of the following words and phrases as used in the passage.
(4mks)
(i) Memoirs:………………………………………………………………………………
(ii) Salient:……………..…………………………………………………………………
(iii) Even doing time at Kamiti prison:……………………………………………………
(iv) Prime:…………………………………………………………………………………

Marking Scheme example 3

1. (a) - Law Society of Kenya Honors Award. (1mk)
( b ) A c c h r o o R a m
Kapila.
(1mk)
(c) - Light hearted / humorous / jovial; the author comments that he (Kapila) speaks in a
hilarious manner.
- Hardworking; must have worked hard to deserve the greatest award a lawyer
can expect.
- Dedicated, he loves his work. He is not even willing to retire.
- Loving; relates very warm with his sons, grandchildren and daughters-in-law.

(d) Though characterized by problems such as police harassment (1mk) and

imprisonment, (1mk) it enabled him to meet and work with memorable (1mk) figures in
the struggle to end oppression and also heroes of Kenya’s freedom struggle. (Show
the distribution of marks in that question)
(e) - He admires Kapila for having accomplished so much in his career.
- He also praises him for his ability to blend all the qualities attributed to him.

(f) (i) I must seem like a fossil or dinosaur.

Means that his achievements appear to be things of the past.
(ii) I find it as bad as alcohol; compares praises to alcohol which is likely to give
one the wrong impression/intoxicating.(Same distribution as above)
(g) Means that he has achieved what he would have liked to achieve in his career.
(1mk)
(h) (i) Memoirs – The story of one’s life.
(ii) Salient – Clear / more noticeable / conspicuous
(iii) Even doing time at Kamiti prison - Even being imprisoned at times

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 (iv) Prime – Important
Example 4
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:

How to dress to impress, how to communicate to invoke trust, how to posture to exude
confidence, low to stand out as the best above the rest are all challenges that we persistently
face when we compete for jobs, positions and even social acceptance.

We live in a society that judges us primarily by our physical appearance and ability to advance
out propositions. Those who have the gift of garbs, the skill in creating an impression and the
art of swag tend to make it further in the path of life as compared to those who sit pretty waiting
for manna to fall and for ability to be recognized.

Quite philosophically, we can postulate that every time we step out into the world, we face
intense scrutiny and vetting from all those around us. Our neighbors scrutinize our behavior to
determine whether the home front is pleasant or tumultuous, colleagues examine our demeanor
to gauge our propensity to win or lose clients assess our conduct to deliver on promises and
strangers create an impression of whether our persona is repulsive or attractive just from the
first glance.

In fact, everywhere we turn, there’s sure to be someone judging whether or not we are who they
think we are. Due to this persistent societal inspection we learn that image is everything and
invest heavily in our outward appearance. And for those who understand just how pivotal it all
is, they invest even more heavily in the ‘inward’ appearance that provides the zest, zeal and
gusto to face with enthusiasm no matter what. While image is everything, it’s nothing void of
intricate preparation. As we venture for job interviews, business pitches or even social
engagements, we are tasked with anticipating all technical questions that could be posed,
preempting all personal issues that could be raised and predicting any historical sensitive
occurrences that could be revisited.

Even more critically we are expected to conduct background and emotional intelligence on
those we shall come face to face with in the judging panel. Most panels tend to consist of three
types of people; the neutral, the balanced and the biased. Those who are neutral are often
fence-sitters keen on taking the safe middle ground. Where they could make a decisive choice,
they make generalized conclusions; they make more decisive ones often rationalizing why.
Those who are biased unashamedly take a stance based on their predispositions and values.
They are often inclined towards a candidate who is their tribe, gender, schoolmate or friend.
They have no qualms going out of their way to defend their preference.

Without doubt we have all been victims of the three personalities, seldom to our pleasure and
frequently to our dismay. The vetting you and I undergo in our daily endeavors is not at all
easy. Yet in the success and failures we learn to improve for the next encounter.

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As we face the realities of constant scrutiny and vetting, it must have been interesting to watch
our Cabinet Secretaries during the recently concluded vetting exercise. The kid-glove approach
that was applied with many of the candidates suggested that the exercise was more of a rubber
stamp for the nominations made. The lukewarm manner in which technical competence was
established, personal character was unearthed and historical scandals or grey areas were
clarified made us realize that what the candidates had undergone was a field day in comparison
to the grilling sessions we endure in our quests for jobs. Indeed, watching the events unfold
made me wonder whether we currently have a constitution whose tenets are ahead of its time.
Whatever the case, it’s refreshing that we have embarked on the journey.

Moving forward, as our new executive starts its mission to help us all fulfill our dreams, let’s
hope they will work with honesty, dignity and utmost professionalism. Let’s pray that they will
endeavor to exceed our expectations, proving that despite neutrality and bias witnessed in
select cases, they were worth every penny. Finally, start the week more balanced than neutral,
won’t you!
(Angela Ambitho, Standard on Sunday, May 19, 2013)
Questions.
1. Which challenges do people face when competing for jobs, positions and even
social acceptance?(2mks)
2. According to the writer, what should one do if one wants to succeed in our society?
(3mks)
3. Identify the writer’s attitude towards the neutral panelists.
(2mks)
4. In note form outline the various forms of societal inspection as outlined in the
passage.(3mks)
5. In your opinion, what could be some of the historical sensitive occurrences that
could be revisited in a(2mks)
job interview?
6. Citing examples from the passage explain what emotional intelligence is. (2mks)
7. Without doubt we have all been victims of three personalities, seldom to our
pleasure and(2mks
frequently to our dismay. (Replace the underlined word with a synonym).
8. The kid-glove approach that was applied with many of the candidates suggested that the
exercise was more of a rubber stamp for nominations made. (Explain the meaning of the
underlined expression). (1mk)
9. Whatever the case, it’s refreshing that we have embarked on the journey ………
(Put a question tag). (1mk)
10. Give the meaning of the following word and expression as used in the passage. (2mks)
(a) Lukewarm
(b) Grey areas.

Marking Scheme Example 4

1. - How to dress to impress.

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 - How to communicate to invoke confidence.
- How to posture to exude confidence.
- How to stand out as the best above the rest. (@ ½ mks = 2mks)

2. - One should have the gift of the grip.

- The skill in creating an impression.
- The art of swag.
3. - Scornful.
- He refers to them as fence sitters keen on taking the middle ground.
- Where they could make a decisive choice, they make generalized.
(1mk for identification, 1mk for illustration)
4. - Ourneighbors scrutinize our behavior to determine whether the home front is pleasant
ortumultuous.
- Colleagues examine our demeanor to gauge our propensity to win or lose.
- Clients assess our conduct to deliver on promises.
- Strangers create an impression of whether our persona is repulsive or attractive just
from the first glance.
(Should be in note form, deduct 50% of the total score if in continuous prose = 4mks)
5. Scandals like corruption, nepotism, high handedness etc.
(Accept any logical answer = 1mk)

6. This refers to temperaments / attitudes / biases / prejudices etc.

7. Rarely
8. Without proper consideration (1mk)
9. Haven’t we? (‘h’ must be small) (Must put question mark if not award 0 = 1mk)
10. (a) Lukewarm – Lightly, lacking in seriousness.
(b) Grey areas – ‘dirty’ areas
- Contentious.
Example 5
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow:-
The history of alcohol in Kenya is not a sober one. It staggers back to the colonial days when
anything stronger than peppered goat – head soup required an official letter from a chief. Today,
Kenyans have taken their drinking to off-limits counters and require the return of the infamous
Alcoblow to reduce the number of deaths occasioned by drunken driving.

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 Never mind the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act 2010, famously known as the “Mututho
Law” which sought to control drinking hours. But Kenyans are special in many bottled ways. The
World Health Global Status Report on alcohol reveals that they consume the highest amount of
beer in East Africa. That thirsts a long throat, stretching back to the days when being spotted on
a “White Only” establishment could lead to a stint in jail.
Consider the story of Hussein Warutere, as contained in Al Kag’s Living memories.
Warutere – who requested his real name not be used – spent 13 years in the slammer because
of; you could never guess this one…diarrhoea! Warutere, 99 years old and going blind, when he
was interviewed for Living memories, was a rickshaw runner at Nairobi Norfolk Hotel. He was
transporting Frederick Marshall, a pitiless police reservist, when he experienced a minor, “State
of emergency’ with his bowels. The meaning of life depended on locating a toilet. Warutere had
no option but to rush to a “Whites Only” loo. As fate would have it, he was done, just as Marshall
was getting in; he was accused of “trying to assist the Mau Mau by planting a bomb in the loo”.
After a 15 minute trial, he was found guilty. Warutere spent six years in Manyani Prison and
another six in Mwea. The same strictness was observed regarding consumption of bottled
alcohol, though not of the “Manyani” proportions.
And while explorers, missionaries, Indian coolies, and colonialists brought with them
foreign spirits, enactment of laws prohibiting ‘natives’ from quaffing bottled stuff saw them resort
to the more familiar brews. These were taken on special occasions – strictly by men. Alcohol,
before the killer illicit brands from greedy “brew – trepreneurs” had a respected place in African
Societies irrespective of one’s station in life, community, or geography. Indeed traditional brews
were not the preserve of ne-er-do wells like today. They were drunk sparingly too, and thus few
succumbed to thirst-induced poisoning as alcohol was not laced with chemicals that can interest
the government Chemist and morticians.
Things changed with the lowering of the union Jack in 1963 – when East African
Breweries turned 41 years since George and Charles Hurst founded it. Kenyans were free, and
so were their collective thirsty throats. They could drink bottled booze with brand names like the
defunct City Lager. With one shilling at the time, one could stagger home after tipping a waiter,
a packet of cigarettes in hand.
Many people wanted to come to Nairobi for its perceived economic and social
opportunities. The ensuing rural-urban migration saw the proliferation of slums in the 1970s.
Most ruralites alas were uneducated. But they needed to earn a living all the same.
A study carried out in Nairobi’s Mathare slums revealed that four out of five women
brought home the bacon, okay the boeflo, on the strength of selling busaa, a traditional brew
popular in Western Kenya. Come the 1980s and chang’aa took over, becoming the major illicit
liquor. To increase profit, brewers discovered the potency of methanol, an industrial alcohol
used in antifreeze among other products. Methanol provided the direct injection preferred by
those desiring to get to High Street fast, on the cheap. Despite methanol-laced chang’aa
causing coma, blindness, and death, few Kenyans have let “kill-me-Quick” out of the grip.
The 2010 World Health Organization Global Status on Alcohol indicates that 70 percent
of families in Kenya are affected by alcoholism despite the fact that the government has
designated banned traditional liquor as “illicit” since independence. To rectify the situation,
parliament in 2005 considered introducing the requirement that they be packaged after lifting the
ban. But the government raised duty on alcohol, increasing beer prices forcing juicers to hunt
illicit shebeens.
Kenya’s escalating cost of living has not sobered matters, either; instead it has pushed
more tipplers off the prohibitive, but safe-bottled drinks, to down market brews that have, and
are still killing.

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 (Adapted from an article from the Daily Nation by Kamau Mutunga, Monday October 3rd
2011)
QUESTIONS.
a. What does the writer mean by “The history of alcohol in Kenya is not a sober one?”(2
marks)
b. Why was drunkenness less rampant among Africans during the colonial period? (3
marks)
c) State how the laws governing the consumption of alcohol were discriminatory during the
colonial period. (2 marks)
d) Give evidence to show that Kenyans are unique in their drinking habits in the region.(2
marks)
e) List the ways alcohol causes death according to the passage. (2 marks)
f) Explain how the position of traditional brews changed after independence. (2 marks)
g) Why according to the writer do many Kenyans continue to drink illicit brews despite the
danger they pose? (2 marks)
h) To increase profit, brewers discovered the potency of methanol, an industrial alcohol
used in antifreeze among other products. (Rewrite the sentence beginning: The
discovery………………………………..). (1 mark)
Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the passage:- (4 marks)
i) Bottled.
ii) Morticians.
iii) Proliferation.
iv) Prohibitive.

Marking Scheme Example 5

Q.1.a) Drinking alcohol has been a common practice for a long time/throughout the years/since
the colonial days have had a drinking(2
problem.
marks)
b) During the colonial period, the use of alcohol was restricted/regulated/controlled by the
colonial government Africans could not take bottled beer only men were allowed to drink and
on special occasions/sparingly.
Expect all 3 points 1x3 = 3 marks
c. While explorers, missionaries, Indian coolies and colonialists brought with them foreign
spirits, the law prohibited Africans from drinking bottled beer African men were only allowed to
take traditional brews on special occasion

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 Expect both points 1x2 = 2 marks
d. The 2011 World Health Organization Global status on Alcohol reveals Kenyans
consume the highest amount 2
ofmarks
beer in East Africa.
e. -Death through drunken driving.
-Chang’aa laced with methanol
-Death caused by chemicals
(Any two points. Answer should be in point form. If not award 50%. (1x2 = 2
marks)
f. In the colonial era traditional brews had a respectable place in African societies. / They
were taken sparingly/they were not the preserve of the poor/they were not laced with chemicals
but with independence
(2 marks)traditional brews were designated banned/illicit.
g) Beer prices are high because of government taxes.
The high cost of living has pushed consumers to go for cheaper potent brands. (2
marks)
h) The discovery of the potency of methanol by brewers, an industrial alcohol used in anti-
freeze among
No markother
if comma(s)
products,missing.
increased profits. (1 mark
i.i) Bottled – things not talked about.
ii) Morticians – undertakers
iii) Proliferation – mushrooming/springing up/quick increase.
iv) Prohibitive – high cost/very expensive.
1 mark each 1x4 = 4 marks

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