Kenyans drinking allegedly harmful imported beverages

Beverages and sodas usually sold in Kenya are of high quality and cannot harm any individual. Some of the companies dealing with juices and beverages are Highlands, Cocacola, Pepsi, Victoria juice, Del Monte, Lite products, Picana, Fresh squeeze Ltd, Pick N Peel brand etc.

Some of these companies are local and they promote Kenyan farmers and suppliers, create jobs and contribute to Kenya’s revenue collection. But recently many shops in Mombasa have been stocked with beverages and juices whose origin is one of the countries in East Africa and they have become students’ favourite.

These beverages come in green, brown and blue bottles packed in see through nylons, similar to the way water is packed. Surprisingly these drinks have warnings on the bottle, such as do not drink more than two bottles per day, not suitable for persons sensitive to caffeine, children, pregnant or breastfeeding women. Avoid drinking before sleeping. Are these beverages safe? Majority of drinkers are children and what will happen to them? Why should someone not take the drink before sleeping? Do Kenyan beverages have such warnings? How harmful are these drinks? Someone is sleeping on the job.

Did KRA, food and poison board approve and test these drinks? Only liquors in Kenya have such warnings. Who is importing drinks with such warnings? Kenyans are drinking uncertified drinks which will harm them in the long run. Kenyans should buy and build Kenya by buying a variety of beverages available in the market. Are these drinks contributing to the poor health of Kenyans? Those in charge should approve the importation of suitable beverages not available in the Kenyan market and also those that are not harmful. Furthermore, the officials are exporting Kenyan jobs. In Kenya we consume what we do not produce while we produce what we do not consume.