Kenya Bureau of Standard (KEBS) officer Mr John Kabue has warned bar and restaurants who sale counterfeit products to customers that their days are numbered.
Kabue said that adulterated products sold in outlets were responsible for the many deaths witnessed in the country in the resent years citing the Murang’a and Kiambu incident where several died due to illicit liquor.
While addressing bar and restaurants stakeholders in a sensitizing workshop in Thika West on Tuesday, Kabue said that retailers should have records to ascertain the purchase of their liquor.
He said that the retailers should insist on Electronic Tax Register (ETR) receipts for verification of the KEBS marks and in case the drink is counterfeit; it can be tracked by the necessary authority.
“Retailers should insist on ETR receipts from their distributors in order to verify their validity and as well being tracked in case it is harmful when consumed,” said Kabue.
Kabue further cautioned wines and spirits outlets that sale drinks in tots alleging that it could have been adulterated and if found they will face the law.
“Those wines and spirit outlets which sale tots or ‘Kanusu’ as you term it will not be tolerated by our officers since they could contain other mixtures from the original alcohol,” warned Kabue.
The officer further expressed his concerns to the manufacturers who produce right samples for inspection but later on distribute counterfeit to the public terming it as inhuman and gluttonous.
He challenged them that as they are busy manufacturing counterfeit products, they should remember the many lives are lost due to illicit liquor in Kenya.
Thika East OCPD Daniel Chacha in the same meeting said they will crackdown on pubs, wine and spirit which will not produce ETR receipts for all the alcoholic beverages they have.
Seconded by Thika west boss Shadrack Maithya, Chacha said they not negotiate the law but instead enforce it to ensure the town is free of lethal drinks.