CS Kuria: Any 250ml Bottle Of Liquor Sold Below Ksh250 Should Be Labeled As Illegal

Investment, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary (CS) Moses Kuria has said that any 250ml bottle of liquor being sold below Ksh250 should be labeled as illegal.

Kuria made the remarks on Monday, June 12, 2023, while addressing a crowd during a multi-agency meeting at Kirubia Stadium in Tharaka Nithi County.

He said that the move is aimed at counteracting the production rate of illegal alcohol in the country.

“Any liquor vendor selling alcohol at the price mentioned above should immediately be treated as a suspect,” Kuria said.

He added that the government will be working with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and other relevant agencies to ensure that illegal alcohol is taken off the market.

Kuria’s remarks come at a time when the country is grappling with a high rate of alcohol-related deaths.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), alcohol is a major risk factor for death and disability in Kenya.

In 2016, alcohol-related deaths accounted for 5.3% of all deaths in the country.

Kuria’s move is seen as a step in the right direction in the fight against illegal alcohol.

However, it remains to be seen how effective it will be in curbing the production and sale of illegal alcohol in the country.