Tough rules to brewers in new Bill to sanitise liquor industry

By MWANIKI MUNUHE

The cost of manufacturing alcoholic products could go up drastically in a move aimed at discouraging crooked people from brewing harmful drinks.

The new Bill comes in the wake of illicit alcohol-induced deaths; the alcohol is said to have contained methanol and left nearly 100 people dead and scores more blinded.

The Bill requires manufacturers to secure a performance bond of not less than Sh100 million before obtaining a licence.

It is expected that the new law, among other stringent requirements, will cut the number of brewers from hundreds to about 15.

 This would make policing easier for Government agencies accused of failing to reign in manufacturers and prevent deaths of innocent people. The Bill is crafted by Imenti Central Member of Parliament Gideon Mwiti.

The Bill, which is essentially an amendment of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, further requires all manufacturers to have a technical person who has a Bachelor of Science degree or at least a diploma in food technology.

Drastic reduction

“This Bill seeks to professionalise the alcoholic beverages industry by ensuring that various people take full responsibility for their actions, or lack of them, at different levels. We must protect out citizens from reckless, selfish and unprofessional brewers,” said Mwiti.

The technician will be required to obtain a professional indemnity cover from a reputable insurance company of not less than Sh50 million.

The certificate is among the documents investors will be expected to take to the Registrar of Companies as they incorporate their respective firms.

However, the number of licensed manufacturers is expected to undergo drastic reduction when the alcoholic drinks regulator, National Authority for Campaigns against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) completes the due diligence tests it is doing.

Nacada chairman John Mututho told The Standard on Saturday that the alcohol manufacturing companies could reduce from more than 200 to about 15.

“You will be surprised to compare the number of companies that were previously licensed to operate against the number that will qualify. If those that qualify go beyond 15, then I will be very surprised,” he said

According to Mr Mututho, Nacada is not only tightening the rope for manufacturers but also for licensed outlets, which will soon be required to have a certificate from the manufacturer showing that such outlets are authorised to deal in the products they are selling.

“Majority of the outlets, I can assure you, will be phased out,” he said.

The latest development saw at least 56 officers from Government interdicted, including former Nacada Chief Executive William Okedi.