Former chairman of the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) John Mututho has expressed his concerns that some Kenyan companies could be selling fake vodka.
Speaking during an interview with a local media station, Mututho stated that Kenyan manufacturers did not have the capacity to make Vodka or Brandy locally.
Additionally, he noted that the process of manufacturing of vodka requires seeds which he noted no Kenyan manufacturer had access to.
“For Vodka, there are specific seeds used in its manufacture and there is no Kenyan factory that has it. If there is a company that claims to manufacture Vodka let them invite me to their premises.
“Also for Brandy, you have to use either white or red grapes to make the whine that is required before making brandy. No one in Kenya has done that,” he noted.
Mututho on Alcohol Consumed in Central Kenya
At the same time, the former NACADA boss blamed the authority’s bosses for the recurrent reports of deaths due to toxic alcohol consumption.
According to him, leaders are engaging in the talk about combating illicit liquor but have failed to implement any preventive measures.
Also Read: Alcohol Addicts Turn to Soup in Their Recovery Journey
“We must check and see the kind of people we are calling leaders. When I was in NACADA, many of the people I would call my bosses were not clean.”
“We speak on television about our concern for those who have died from consuming illicit alcohol but do nothing about it,” he added.
Additionally, he stated that it was possible to consume alcohol and unwind without any effects as long as the liquor consumed was of good quality.
Mututho stated that much of the liquor sold in the central region was toxic, hence the many cases of deaths.
“When you go to the central region, those people don’t drink as much alcohol as those living in the Western region. But you realize that there are not many cases of deaths reported from western areas.”
Also Read: How Much is Too Much Alcohol to Consume
“This is because those in the Mount Kenya region are drinking poison. If you drink the right kind of alcohol, you will not die, you will have your fun and continue with your life, noted the former NACADA boss.
NACADA on Death Reported in Central from Toxic Alcohol
13 people were confirmed dead on Wednesday, February 7, while 5 others reported to have gone blind in Kangai and Kandongu villages of Kirinyaga County after consuming the toxic alcohol.
At the same time, the Central Regional Commissioner Fredrick Shisia confirmed that the owner of the California Bar where the victims consumed alcohol on February 6, was arrested.
Responding to the case, NACADA noted that they were conducting tests to determine the content of the alcohol that may have resulted to the deaths.
