Caucus petitions State to cut down taxes on alcohol

PRICING: Alcoholic Beverages Association of Kenya (ABAK) has urged the government to consider reducing the taxes on alcohol production to make it affordable to the common person.

The association’s chair Erick Duak said this is one of the ways to curb brewing of illicit liquor which has been thriving in  the country.

He said people opt for the second generation brews because they are cheaper compared to the legitimate products.

“Illicit liquor is cheap and that’s why many people opt for it despite it posing a health risk to them,” he said.

Duak was speaking in Gatanga, Murang’a during donation of sanitisers and face masks to residents of Njai-ni and Mukurwe, the two sub-locations where cases of Covid-19 are reportedly on the rise. 

He said they are engaging the government to see if there are other strategies which can be explored to curb the menace.

“If we have  cost of production reduced, the price shall go down and make it affordable to people out there,” he said.

He acknowledged the government’s efforts to fight illicit brews but said more need to be done to avoid loss of lives referring to the incident in Nakuru where 10 people died after consuming lethal alcohol.

Second generation brews

Gachoka Kimano, the CEO bar owners in Nakuru said they will enhance efforts to eradicate second generation brews in the area.

Kimani said their association only covers those people who sell legitimate alcohol and have  licenses from the government.

“We are going to join hands with the government and other stakeholders to fight the brewing of illicit liquor in this area”he said.

 National chairman Bar, Hotel and Liquor Traders Association Simon Njoroge expressed hope the government will increase operational hours for bar owners.