News of a Thika-based alcohol manufacturing plant, African spirits, being  found in possession of ethanol of questionable quality and suspected fake Kenya Revenue Authority stamps is a very disturbing consumer issue. 

While we are grateful both KRA and KEBS have since acted, there is need to shut down such distilleries and ensure total compliance before they are re-opened.

Most important, we expect the Chief Public Health Officer at the Ministry of Health Dr Kepha Ombacho to move with speed to have all poor quality spirits and other drinks from Africa Spirits confiscated, owners charged and consumers whose lives have been endangered to be compensated.

The recent by the Flying Squad, KRA and the DCI is laudable but it is not a sustainable way of enforcement. The crooks will simply change locations and continue evading quality and tax issues.

It is important that consumers know that African Spirits are the producers of Bluemoon vodka, Legend brandy, Glenrock whiskey, Furaha gin, and Furaha Vodka, among others drinks. These drinks are consumed all over the country. It is important that consumers exercise extreme discretion. Our advice is that unless they can authenticate, that is good enough. Unfortunately, even the “Soma Label” app is not fullproof.

That over hundreds of tanks of ethanol were found stored in a container while other tanks were packed in trucks loaded with maize and oats at the plant raises credible quality issues on their drinks.