A bar in Murang'a. | image source: the-star.co.ke
Bar operators in Murang’a county have asked the national government to vet liquor companies before licensing them raising concerns that the market is flooded with counterfeit alcohol from licensed manufacturers.
Through the chairman of their association, Murang’a Bar Owners’ Association, James Waweru urged county and the national government to work together to stop production and consumption of second-generation alcohol.
Waweru expressed worry that residents are consuming counterfeit alcoholic brands because bar operators are unable to differentiate counterfeit from genuine alcohol and hence end up innocently selling both to patrons.
“We want to conduct legitimate businesses in a clean environment. We are ready to work with the government to ensure the sector is cleaned up,” he said.
Waweru called for scrutiny on liquor manufacturers who sell their products cheaply.
“I wonder how a manufacturer would sell beer at KES 40 when an empty bottle costs KES 20. It means the alcohol is of poor quality,” he said.
Waweru, who was addressing a bar operators’ meeting in Murang’a town on Saturday, said the bar and hotels industry is worth KES 2 billion and brings the county millions of shillings in revenue.
He urged the county government to establish a strong liquor court that would work with the provincial administration to control the sector.
- The STAR