Joe W Muciri has spoken out about the growing concerns surrounding fake alcohol in Kenya, arguing that the problem affects the wider population, the economy and government revenue.
Muchiri shared his views in a video posted on Instagram, where he described the issue as a health crisis and questioned how counterfeit alcohol continues to find its way into the Kenyan market.
His post was captioned: “Let Me Explain & Rant About How FAKE ALCOHOL Affects All Of Us, Whether U Partake or Not, It May Make Sense To You or Not, But It’s A Health Crisis At The Moment.”
‘Fake alcohol affects the whole country’
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Muchiri said the effects of fake alcohol go beyond those who consume it.
“Fake alcohol affects the whole country, affects the whole economy.”
He also questioned how much more tax the government could collect if fake alcohol was removed from the market.
According to Muchiri, legal alcohol is already heavily taxed, with those costs eventually being passed on to consumers.
He further questioned how counterfeit alcohol is manufactured, packaged and distributed, arguing that ordinary Kenyans cannot simply produce and introduce such products into the country without access to the necessary networks.
“You as a corrupt person, you are killing your friends, relatives and Kenyans.”
Concerns over health effects
Muchiri also raised concerns about the effects people may experience after consuming suspected fake alcohol.
He said some cases involve people remaining unwell for several days after drinking, questioning whether such effects should be associated with genuine alcoholic products.
“If we drink the right alcohol, it is not supposed to mess us up like that.”
He referred to cases where people reportedly remain unconscious or experience prolonged hangovers, using the examples to stress the seriousness of the issue.
Recent fake alcohol seizures
Muchiri’s comments come amid a series of recent operations targeting illicit and counterfeit alcohol in Kenya.
On 1 August 2026, detectives in Eldoret reportedly uncovered a suspected illicit alcohol operation and seized counterfeit alcoholic drinks, fake KRA excise stamps and packaging materials. Preliminary investigations indicated that ethanol was sourced through the Busia border before being processed and distributed in Eldoret and neighbouring counties.
In another operation, police reportedly seized about 4,100 litres of illicit alcohol in the Soweto area of Kasarani, including Kangara and chang’aa.
On 3 August, authorities also reportedly seized 138 cartons of counterfeit liquor in Ruiru, with one person arrested.
The Kenya Bureau of Standards issued another warning on 14 August, reminding consumers to verify products before purchasing them. KEBS said consumers can check the authenticity of products bearing the Standardisation Mark by sending “SM#” followed by the permit number to 20023.
Scale of illicit alcohol problem
The Anti-Counterfeit Authority has previously highlighted the scale of illicit alcohol in Kenya. According to figures presented to Parliament in 2026, illicit alcohol accounted for about 59 per cent of alcohol sold by volume, while counterfeit alcohol represented 21 per cent of the market by value, based on the authority’s 2022 market assessment.
The figures underline the economic dimension of the issue raised by Muchiri, as illicit products can affect legitimate businesses and government revenue.
Earlier in January, the ACA also led a multi-agency operation in Eldoret that resulted in the seizure of suspected counterfeit alcoholic beverages valued at KSh7.6 million.
