Former NACADA Chair Mututho Exposes Shocking Rise of Counterfeit Vodka in Kenya
On Wednesday, John Mututho, the ex-chairman of the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), cautioned Kenyan citizens about the presence of counterfeit alcohol being circulated in the market.
In a conversation with a regional media outlet, Mututho detailed the production process of vodka, highlighting that the majority, if not all, of Kenyan alcohol producers lack access to the necessary ingredients for crafting this particular type of spirit.
“There is no vodka in Kenya. Any Kenyan company claiming they make vodka should invite me to verify, without the seeds that are usually imported from outside the country, that is not vodka,” he noted.
Mututho additionally called upon the existing participants in the alcohol production sector to embrace the regulations he had previously suggested to combat alcoholism and the illicit sale of liquor. According to him, more stringent legislation should be implemented to oversee the industry.
“I have done 100 years worth of research, respect me and reinstate the Mututho laws, publish all the four regulations I recommended,” he stated.
Pointing to the 113 fatalities attributed to the ‘kumikumi’ homemade alcohol in Mai Mahiu in 2005, Mututho emphasized the importance of scrutinizing the present officials in charge of alcohol regulation. He accused the majority of them of being involved or tacitly supportive.
“When I was the NACADA chair, my bosses would announce deaths through the media and swear to fight consumption of illegal brews, but nothing would be done,” he stated.
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He additionally observed that the Mt Kenya area was ingesting harmful substances under the guise of alcohol, emphasizing that the authentic Muratina was more secure compared to the present illegal concoctions.
“If you consume the right kind of alcohol, and know your limits, you will have your fun, talk your rubbish, and continue with your life,” he added.
This follows a day after ten individuals were pronounced dead in the Kangai region of Kirinyaga county. The cause is believed to be the consumption of a tainted local brew that had expired and was suspected to contain concentrated ethanol.
“This type of chemical can cause liver cirrhosis and other nervous system problems, including that sign where they cannot see well,” Kirinyaga Health County Executive Committee Member George Karoki stated while confirming the incident.
In light of this progress, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), and the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) initiated a countrywide operation on Tuesday, February 6th, targeting bars that are vending expired alcohol.
Former NACADA Chair Mututho Exposes Shocking Rise of Counterfeit Vodka in Kenya
