Traditional brews that meet standards will be licensed, Kindiki says in alcohol crackdown
The Deputy President says 116 raids on illicit brews were carried out in the past 10 days and new laws targeting cartels' assets are being finalised.
Based on reporting by Capital FM and The Kenya Times.
A glass of beer. Illustration. File photo, 2025. Photo: DimiTalen / Wikimedia Commons, CC0, cropped
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki says traditional alcoholic brews that meet Kenya Bureau of Standards requirements will be formalised and licensed, as the government steps up its crackdown on illicit alcohol. He spoke on Wednesday in Karen, Nairobi, after meeting police, prosecutors, county representatives and agency heads.
Kindiki said the government now treats illicit alcohol as one of the country's top three threats. In the past 10 days, he said, there were 9 raids on premises selling illegal ethanol and 116 raids on sellers of illicit brews.
He said proposed laws to punish manufacturers, distributors and enablers of chemically adulterated drinks have been finalised, along with a law to seize assets linked to the cartels, with the proceeds going to rehabilitation for people struggling with addiction. Neither has yet become law.
A permanent multi-agency secretariat has been set up at Harambee House to coordinate the operations. "We are not fighting against businesses nor against the industry," Kindiki said, adding that the target is criminal networks.
The Kenya Times reports that NACADA has launched a 100-day drive against unregulated second-generation alcohol, from manufacturers to drinkers.
