NAIROBI, April 9 (Xinhua) -- At nine people died on Friday and more than 10 others turned blind after consuming illicit liquor locally known as chang'aa at a den in Nairobi's residential Shauri Moyo estate.

Area residents said the incident that occurred late Friday has left many perplexed with adding that the brew might have been laced with other additives.

However, the area Police chief Kipkemoi Rop confirmed three deaths and six blinded adding that they were yet to make any arrests but were looking for the culprit.

However, witnesses refuted the number putting it to at least nine. "It is difficult to tell the exact number of people dead because there are those who died in their houses and others in hospitals, please give us time to compile all that data," Rop told journalists. "It is even difficult to tell those who have been taken to hospital because many of them were taken there by their relatives and well wishers, our officers have so far ferried seven to hospital but shortly we will be able to get all the data," he said.

The blind were transferred to Kenyatta National Hospital after receiving treatment at local health centres.

Angry residents demolished the chang'aa den and vowed to pull down more structures where the brew is sold within the estate, even as they demonstrated.

A number of the victims' relatives said that they became worried after their kin, who had consumed the alcohol Thursday night, did not respond to their promptings Friday morning.

The residents said the first three victims were found dead at about midday while another four, including a woman, were pronounced dead on the way to hospital, hours later.

In June 2005, 49 people died in Machakos after they consumed illicit home-made brew suspected to have been laced with a poisonous substance while over 200 others died in the same district in similar circumstances in 2000.