When the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act of 2010, famously known as the Mututho laws (after the sponsor Naivasha MP John Mututho) was enacted, it introduced sanity and control in terms of drinking hours. However, there have been concerns raised about how the Act impacted uptake of illicit brews and the conditions in which this was done.

Keroche Breweries Limited CEO Tabitha Karanja said illicit drinks had had adverse effects on the sector. She blamed the Alcoholic Control Act of 2010 noting that it concentrated on oppressing players in the sector but not on quality. According to Keroche, 60% of illicit brews consumed in the country were impure and unhygienic for human consumption.

Karanja admitted that the alcoholic control act had affected them mainly when it came to the requirement that all achohol products had to be packaged in glass bottles.

She questioned the time frame given by the government for compliance, saying it was difficult to buy, import and fix the glass packaging machines as required by the new law within six months.

The company said that it was targeting twenty per cent market share of the alcohol market in five years time. “For years, the alcohol sector was dominated by one player and we are committed to getting our 20 per cent share in the next five years.”

Courtesy: The Standard