Ministry names registered alcohol manufacturers as crackdown intensifies

Interior and National Government Administration Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki.[Phares Mutembei, Standard]

The Ministry of Interior on Thursday, March 7, released a list of approved manufacturers and wholesalers of veterinary drugs, KEBS-registered alcohol manufacturers, pharmacies, and chemists, to fight counterfeits in the country.

In its list, only 55 companies were approved to manufacture alcohol as per the requirements of the Kenya Bureau of Statics (KEBS).

Among those include Keroche Breweries, London Distillers, Tana Distillers, and Kenya Wine Agencies.

Other companies like Africa Spirits were also approved for manufacturing as they have active licenses, a requirement demanded by the Kenya Revenue Authority.

5245 pharmacies and chemists were also allowed to operate in the country, including AAR healthcare facilities and Aga Khan hospitals.

The entities have met the requirements of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board.

As of yesterday, the government had permitted only 15 companies to the manufacturers of veterinary drugs across the country.

All of them are based in Nairobi except one in Machakos County and another one in Kiambu County.

Among those listed are Cosmos Limited, Murphy Chemicals, and Vetcare Kenya.

Concerning the retail of veterinary drugs, 96 companies were listed across the country as legible veterinary drug distributors.

This directive come days after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki announced the suspension of licenses for all manufacturers of second-generation products especially alcohol in the country.