Poison in the bottle: Killer alcohol floods market as rogue traders mint billions

Kenya's illicit alcohol market, valued at Sh203 billion, is thriving with counterfeit and dangerous spirits, leading to widespread addiction, illness, and fatalities, particularly among vulnerable populations. This shadow economy accounts for 60% of the country's alcohol market by volume, causing significant tax revenue losses and unfair competition for legitimate businesses.
Suspected illicit and counterfeit alcohol seized during a past raid /FILE It is barely 6 am on “Pewa Street” in Nairobi’s Umoja estate, a street famous for having more than 200 wines and spirits outlets and dingy bars in a stretch of 300 metres, but the alley is already alive with a desperate queue.
Get the full story
Sign up for Headlinne to unlock AI insights, political bias analysis, and your personalized news feed.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in