Residents of Songhor-Soba Ward in Tinderet Sub-County have called on the government to explore ways of regulating and improving the preparation, brewing and handling of traditional alcoholic drinks.
They said regulation would provide an affordable beverage option for low-income earners while creating a more controlled industry.
Consumer Safety Advocate Rose Juma said raids on traditional brew dens by security agencies had failed to eliminate the practice, instead pushing many operators underground and making it difficult for authorities to monitor the quality and safety of the drinks being produced.
Juma argued that traditional brews have been part of the community’s social and economic life for generations and that a practical regulatory framework would be more effective than relying mainly on arrests, destruction of brewing equipment and confiscation of products.
She said the government should shift from an enforcement-only approach and establish standards that would protect consumers while allowing responsible producers to operate legally.
“The issue should not only be about destroying the brew. We need a system that addresses hygiene, quality, alcohol content, packaging and the age of consumers. Proper regulation would make it easier to protect people from unsafe drinks,” she observed.
Community elder Gilbert Bowen noted that the high cost of commercially produced alcoholic beverages had made traditional brews attractive to many low-income earners. He said denying people access to affordable alternatives without addressing their economic circumstances was unlikely to end consumption.
Bowen said traditional drinks had historically been used during social gatherings and community ceremonies and should therefore be approached with an understanding of local culture.
He said the government could work with communities to identify acceptable brewing methods, designated premises and operating hours while enforcing strict measures against adulterated drinks and sales to minors.
“The government should listen to the people and find a way of making this activity safe and orderly. Where there are dangers, those responsible should be dealt with, but blanket raids are not a lasting solution,” he said.
A woman leader, Jane Cheptoo, said women and families were among those affected whenever brewing businesses were abruptly closed, arguing that some households depended on the trade for their livelihoods.
Cheptoo urged authorities to consider licensing compliant operators and supporting them with training on hygiene, safe fermentation, storage and responsible marketing.
She also called for measures to prevent traditional brews from being adulterated with harmful substances, saying consumers should be able to know what they are drinking.
Youth leader Maxwell Chumo said young people involved in brewing and selling traditional drinks should not simply be treated as criminals, particularly where they were using the activity to earn a livelihood.
He proposed that the government introduce training and registration programmes that could bring operators into a formal system, while creating alternative income-generating opportunities for those who wished to leave the trade.
Chumo, however, stressed that regulation should go hand in hand with responsible consumption. He called for strict action against drinking among minors, driving under the influence and the sale of alcoholic drinks near learning institutions.
He said a balanced approach would enable the government to protect public health and maintain law and order while addressing the economic realities that continue to sustain demand for affordable traditional brews.
The residents believe that bringing the sector into a regulated framework would provide authorities with better oversight than the current cycle of raids, closures and clandestine operations, while giving consumers greater protection.
By Sammy Mwibanda
