Khaligraph, Femi One, Charisma, Butita unite against NACADA alcohol ban

Khaligraph Jones, Femi One, Charisma, and Butita. Kenya entertainers have expressed displeasure at the National Policy for the Prevention, Management and Control of Alcohol, Drugs and Substance Abuse 2025. (Photos: Instagram) Kenya's top entertainers have united in a rare show of outrage, blasting a proposed policy by NACADA that seeks to ban influencers from promoting alcohol online, a move they say threatens their livelihoods and tramples on freedom of expression. Rapper Khaligraph Jones kicked off the online storm with a curt but weighty response. "Am shocked," he wrote, reacting to the policy that could see digital content creators locked out of lucrative deals with alcohol brands. Fellow rapper and business mogul Femi One was more pointed, taking aim at creatives who remain silent on political matters. In a scathing post, she warned, "I hope all the creatives who are always on the fence and avoid speaking out for or against this regime to 'protect their brand' understand this. Whether you do politics or not, politics will always affect you." Femi's remarks triggered wide conversations among Kenya's digital stars, many of whom feel targeted by a government increasingly suspicious of influencer power. Singer Charisma didn't mince words either. For him, NACADA's proposal reeks of political payback. "People have used their platforms to beat the government, and this is them clapping back," he stated. "That ban on betting influencing and now alcohol influencing is a political move. This thing is deeper than what people think. I am going to do a video on it soon. It is political warfare." Comedian and digital entrepreneur Eddie Butita joined the outcry with an official statement on July 30, describing the move as "misguided and uninformed." "I am deeply concerned by NACADA's recent decision to ban influencers and celebrities from marketing alcohol products online," he said. "While their intent to curb alcohol abuse is valid, the approach taken is misguided, uninformed and fails to involve key stakeholders, especially content creators." Butita said many influencers already adhere to responsible marketing practices, citing codes like those used by East African Breweries Limited (EABL). "I have seen firsthand how marketing codes ensure influencers promote safe, informed messaging," he said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Eddie Butita OGW (@eddiebutita) Their collective response shines a harsh spotlight on NACADA's draft alcohol control policy, which recommends a total ban on influencers and public figures endorsing alcoholic beverages online. Following the public outcry, NACADA was forced to issue a clarification on social media, saying the policy is still under discussion and has not yet been passed into law. "These measures are currently policing recommendations, not law," the authority stated. "Their inclusion aims to initiate legal and regulatory reviews subject to proper procedures. We want to urge the media and the public to treat this policy as what it is-a roadmap, not an enforcement measure." But for many in the entertainment and digital economy, the reassurance came too late. Across X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, content creators continued to air frustrations, accusing NACADA of targeting creatives without engaging them. Some warned that the move could devastate an already strained entertainment industry and rob young influencers of income in a country grappling with high youth unemployment. "This is how you kill dreams," one user wrote. "These deals put food on people's tables." Others echoed Charisma's theory that the clampdown was not just about alcohol but an attempt to silence outspoken digital voices. The controversy has once again spotlighted the widening rift between Kenya's digital-first generation and traditional authorities, many of whom remain skeptical about influencer culture and its impact on youth behaviour. Still, creatives like Butita insist that the solution lies in collaboration, not crackdowns. "There's room for conversation," he said. "But the voices of digital creators must be at the table."

Khaligraph, Femi One, Charisma, Butita unite against NACADA alcohol ban

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Khaligraph, Femi One, Charisma, Butita unite against NACADA alcohol ban

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