KENYA – Kenyans on social media are raising alarm over the growing circulation of counterfeit alcoholic drinks, with several consumers sharing accounts of near-fatal experiences after allegedly consuming contaminated or adulterated spirits.
The concern comes amid reports highlighting the scale of Kenya's illicit alcohol trade. According to industry figures cited before the National Assembly Public Petitions Committee, the illegal alcohol market is estimated to be worth KSh203 billion, accounting for nearly 60 percent of all alcohol consumed in the country.
In submissions reported by Capital FM Kenya, stakeholders from the Alcoholic Beverages Association of Kenya (ABAK) and the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) told lawmakers that the illicit trade deprives the government of more than KSh120 billion in tax revenue each year.
Meanwhile, multi-agency enforcement operations involving the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA), the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have uncovered large-scale counterfeiting operations in counties including Kiambu and the Lower Eastern region. Authorities have seized counterfeit packaging materials, cloned KRA excise tax stamps, and premium liquor bottles—including brands such as Jack Daniel's and Jameson—that had allegedly been refilled with industrial ethanol or other unregulated substances.
Public health experts warn that consuming counterfeit alcohol can have devastating consequences, including methanol poisoning, permanent blindness, kidney failure, organ damage, and even death.
Consumers are being urged to purchase alcoholic beverages only from licensed retailers, supermarkets, and authorized distributors to reduce the risk of buying counterfeit products. Authorities have also called on the public to report suspicious alcoholic beverages or illegal manufacturing operations to help curb the spread of illicit alcohol.