Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has announced that any 250ml bottle of liquor retailing under Ksh.250 should be considered illegal.
Speaking during a multi-agency meeting at Kirubia Stadium in Tharaka Nithi County on Monday, CS Kuria stated that the move will help tame the spiking consumption of alcohol in the nation and also scale down the production of counterfeit drinks.
“If you find any wines and spirits [where] 250 ml is being sold for less than Ksh.250, it is illicit,” he said.
“We have done the math with KRA and we know the core structure so anyone selling liquor below Ksh.250 should be treated as a suspect with immediate effect.”
CS Kuria added that he has already furnished the Finance Committee in parliament with a communiqué to effect the same.
He has similarly agreed with Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) acting commissioner general Risper Simiyu to publish the agreed prices.
“I have already talked to the Finance and Accommodation committee that any wine any wines and spirits should not sell the 250ml bottle below cost price,” he said.
“And that cost price is going to be published by KRA from time to time.”
The Trade CS has advised liquor consumers who will be affected by the price alteration to now turn to drinking milk since it is cheaper and will even cultivate a healthier lifestyle.
“Even if you complain that liquor is expensive it is okay at least there is milk which is cheaper. If you think Ksh.250 is too high start drinking milk.”
CS Kuria’s sentiments come amid an ambitious national crackdown on alcohol consumption by the government spearheaded by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The latest statistics from NACADA show that Kenya’s Western region is leading in cases of alcoholism in the country, with an alcohol prevalence rate of 23.8%, followed by the Coastal region at 13.9%, and Central at 12.8%.
On consumption of alcohol, Western has the highest cases of chang’aa and traditional brew consumption while the Central region leads in the use of potable spirits (4.1%) followed by Coast (3.2%) and Rift Valley (3.1%);
Central region had the highest prevalence of current use of tobacco at 11.9% followed by Coast (10.8%) and Eastern (10.7%).
