KEBS on the spot as poisonous alcohol crisis deepens, say beer sellers

The Anti-Counterfeit Authority estimates the illegal alcohol economy costs Kenya Sh71 billion annually. [Courtesy]

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) is facing mounting pressure to account for its role in the country's escalating counterfeit alcohol crisis, as illicit drinks now account for an estimated 60 per cent of all alcohol consumed in Kenya, according to industry data. The agency had not responded to detailed questions from The Standard by press time.

The crisis has moved beyond a revenue leakage problem into what consumer advocates describe as a "full-blown public health catastrophe."

The Alcoholic Beverages Association of Kenya (ABAK), the umbrella body for the country's leading alcohol manufacturers, on Thursday raised a red flag, urging the State to protect consumers from illegal and non-compliant products. The association's statement shifts the spotlight squarely onto the Ruto administration, demanding urgent government action to disrupt criminal trade networks and enhance product traceability.

"The need for more enhanced collaboration among regulators, enforcement agencies, industry stakeholders and retail trade has never been more important to strengthen market surveillance, improve traceability mechanisms, and protect consumers from illegal and non-compliant products," ABAK said in a statement.

ABAK estimates that illicit alcohol now constitutes roughly 60 per cent of all alcohol consumed in the country, meaning the majority of drinkers are consuming unregulated and potentially lethal products. The Anti-Counterfeit Authority estimates the illegal alcohol economy costs Kenya Sh71 billion annually, while the Kenya Revenue Authority loses an estimated Sh80 billion in potential tax revenue each year.

ABAK Chairperson Kui Kinyanji said Kenyan consumers deserve assurance that the products they purchase are genuine, safe and sourced through legitimate channels.

"Protecting that trust requires a united effort to strengthen enforcement, disrupt illegal and criminal trade networks, enhance product traceability, and hold accountable those who profit from undermining legitimate businesses and exposing consumers to unnecessary risks," Kinyanjui said.

A spot check by The Standard showed many users said they had fallen ill after consuming alcohol, with the scale of complaints described as unprecedented among users. The association noted with concern the growing volume of alcoholic beverages entering the market through parallel importation channels.

"While legitimate trade plays an important role in the economy, products imported outside established distribution networks can present challenges in relation to traceability, storage conditions, and verification of origin. In some cases, it can be difficult for consumers and enforcement agencies to independently confirm the source, handling, and authenticity of such products," ABAK said.

The association urged consumers to purchase alcoholic beverages only from authorised distributors, licensed retailers and other reputable outlets, stressing that purchasing through legitimate channels significantly reduces the risk of obtaining products of unknown origin or products that have been improperly handled within the supply chain.

"We urge consumers to buy alcoholic beverages only from authorised and reputable outlets and to always drink responsibly. At the same time, we call for continued investment in intelligence-led enforcement, stronger border controls, and coordinated action among all stakeholders to safeguard product integrity and consumer trust across the market," Kinyanjui said.

The agency responsible for maintaining quality standards, KEBS, has been conspicuously silent.

KEBS had not responded to questions from The Standard by press time. The questions sent to Managing Director Esther Wangari sought data on the prevalence of counterfeit alcohol, testing failure rates, prosecutions and proposed solutions to the crisis.

In the 2024/2025 financial year, KEBS says it sampled and tested 69 potable spirit products available in the Kenyan market and found them compliant with applicable standards. However, this represents a fraction of the thousands of brands in circulation, and consumer advocates have pointed to what they call a "glaring regulatory gap" whereby so-called "second-generation" alcoholic drinks fall outside mandatory KEBS testing.

Products in this category can carry false ethanol content, forged excise stamps and fabricated batch numbers with minimal pre-market scrutiny. A spot check by The Standard showed multi-agency operations have seized millions of shillings worth of counterfeit alcohol in recent months. In Nairobi alone, authorities recorded Sh790 million in seized illicit alcohol, counterfeit bottles and fake excise stamps in the 2025-26 financial year, while Rift Valley seizures topped 870,000 litres.

Since the government launched a nationwide crackdown in December 2025, more than 2.8 million litres of illicit alcohol have been seized and over 900 suspects arrested. Samples from these operations are routinely sent to KEBS for laboratory analysis to confirm authenticity and assess public health risks.

Following a UK travel warning in October 2025 over methanol poisoning risks in Kenya, KEBS assured the public that all methanol in the country is denatured with denatonium benzoate described as "the bitterest chemical compound" making it impossible to mistake for drinkable alcohol. "Methanol found in Kenya can never be mistaken for alcohol, as this component makes its taste extremely bitter for human ingestion," the agency clarified earlier.

Yet toxic alcohol continues to kill and blind Kenyans. In March 2026, a multi-agency probe in Nyeri county found that all five beer brands sampled failed to meet national safety standards. Further analysis by the Government Chemist indicated the beverages contained harmful levels of alcoholic substances deemed poisonous to the human body. Counties including Kibwezi, Kakamega, Kiambu and Kirinyaga have all buried citizens killed by methanol-laced brews, with survivors left blind or with permanent neurological damage.

KEBS has acknowledged the need for stronger regulation. The agency said earlier it is developing official standards for traditional spirits such as chang'aa, which would set minimum safety, composition, labelling and quality requirements to curb harmful substances including methanol. The bureau has also approved 340 locally manufactured alcoholic beverage brands and warned that any product not appearing in its approved register is not certified and should not bear its quality mark.

Under proposed reforms, KEBS, together with NACADA and the Interior Ministry, intends to roll out a digital tracking system for all ethanol from import or production to final use, designed to prevent diversion into illegal brewing. The agency is also pushing for the proposed Standards Bill, 2025, which would introduce mandatory compliance for products with direct impact on health and safety.

However, enforcement agencies continue to face significant challenges, including limited testing facilities, weak penalties for offenders and corruption. The current fine for possession of illicit brew stands at Sh7,500, which the Interior Ministry has described as an insufficient deterrent. The ministry is now recommending legislative amendments to impose stiffer penalties, including custodial sentences.

ABAK said it reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with government agencies, trade partners, retailers, and consumers to promote a responsible, transparent, and well-regulated alcohol industry that prioritises consumer safety and supports legitimate economic activity.