Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Daily Nation
Published on 2024-02-10 12:30:14
Stakeholders in the alcohol industry are urging both the national and county governments to engage all parties in the creation of regulatory policies for the sector. This call has been made by the Alcoholic Beverages Association of Kenya (Abak) and the Bar, Hotel and Liquor Traders Association (Bahlita), who believe that involving all stakeholders will help close the loopholes in the sector.
This appeal comes in the wake of reports indicating that over a dozen people died in Kirinyaga County after consuming illicit liquor. The affected individuals experienced blurred vision, total loss of vision, and confusion after consuming the alcohol. The incident has reignited the conversation around the efforts of the two levels of government in addressing alcohol abuse, particularly in the Mt. Kenya region.
According to Abak and Bahlita, the government can effectively combat the menace of illicit alcohol by seeking input from all stakeholders in the industry. They are advocating for their involvement in the development of laws to curb the harm caused by illicit alcohol.
During a visit to Kangai village in Kirinyaga to offer condolences to the families of the victims and survivors of the killer liquor, Abak chairman Eric Githua expressed concerns about the bills under consideration in some assemblies in the region. Githua believes that these bills are likely to drive the alcohol trade underground and create conditions for illicit alcohol to thrive.
While acknowledging the noble intentions of the leaders and elected representatives, Githua anticipates unintended consequences if the attention of law enforcement officers shifts from the transportation and sale of illicit alcohol to legitimate alcohol. He believes that the current bill being debated in various county assemblies needs to be put on hold and redrafted in line with the best interests of all stakeholders.
Githua also lamented the high excise duty on alcohol imposed by the government, attributing it to a reduction in the purchasing power of consumers and subsequently to an increase in the illicit trade in alcohol. He further argued that the proposed laws, if enacted in their present form, could lead to the proliferation of the illicit alcohol trade, negatively impacting revenue generation efforts by both national and county governments, as well as causing the loss of livelihoods for families dependent on the industry.
Bahlita chairman Simon Njoroge echoed similar sentiments, stating that imposing tighter restrictions on retailers would drive them underground and force them to resort to shortcuts. He highlighted the increased restrictions that members in the region have faced in renewing their licenses and expressed concerns about the impact of the proposed laws on employment, emphasizing that county governments are overzealous in making new laws where they may not be necessary.
Both Abak and Bahlita have actively engaged in various county assemblies during public participation sessions, making submissions and appealing to the county assemblies to reconsider certain proposals related to banning the transport of alcohol by bodabodas, restricting transportation at night, and imposing operating hour restrictions beyond the existing ones. Through these efforts, they hope to have their voices heard and to influence the development of policies that take into account the interests of all stakeholders in the alcohol industry.
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