The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
The Alcoholic Beverages Association of Kenya (ABAK) is calling on consumers to purchase alcohol exclusively from licensed retailers and authorized distributors, citing rising worries about counterfeit and illegally sourced liquor in the market.
According to the association, sticking to legitimate sales channels helps protect buyers from unknowingly consuming products of questionable origin or those that haven’t been properly stored or handled. This appeal comes as public concern grows over the genuineness and safety of certain alcoholic products currently available.
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ABAK Chairperson Kui Kinyanjui emphasized that Kenyan consumers have a right to trust that what they’re buying is authentic and safely sourced, adding that tighter enforcement and improved tracking systems are essential to safeguard both the public and legitimate businesses in the industry. She pushed for intensified action against illegal alcohol trade networks and greater accountability for those involved.
The association also flagged a rising concern: the increasing amount of alcohol entering Kenya through parallel or unofficial importation routes. These products, ABAK warned, are often difficult to trace and verify, making it hard to confirm their true origin, how they were stored, or whether they’re genuine.
To address this, ABAK called for stronger cooperation among regulators, law enforcement, manufacturers, and retailers to boost oversight of the market and improve the ability to trace products back to their source.
Beyond the authenticity issue, the association reminded consumers to drink responsibly, noting that some negative effects of excessive alcohol intake are sometimes wrongly blamed on poor product quality rather than overconsumption itself.
Kinyanjui reiterated the core message: buy only from trusted, authorized outlets, and always consume alcohol responsibly. ABAK said it remains committed to partnering with government bodies and other stakeholders to strengthen consumer protections and support a properly regulated alcohol industry in the country.
