Why is Senator Maanzo challenging NACADA’s alcohol crackdown?
Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo has strongly criticized NACADA’s new proposals to tighten alcohol regulation, warning they could trigger major economic and social setbacks. Speaking on Citizen TV’s Daybreak, Maanzo argued that the government’s focus is misplaced, saying, “The government should be concentrating on the quality of alcohol.” He emphasized that alcohol use isn’t the root issue, but rather, it’s the poisonous, unregulated brews harming Kenyans.
“The most important thing, the biggest problem in Kenya is poisonous alcohol,” he stressed. “We have seen alcohol that makes people lose their eyes… That’s what the government should first be dealing with: eliminating all the manufacturing of poisonous alcohol.”
Are NACADA’s alcohol rules realistic or risky?
Maanzo dismissed NACADA’s proposal to ban online alcohol sales and limit celebrity advertising as misguided and rushed. He criticized the agency for not involving key stakeholders. “You cannot make this sort of thing without consulting the industry,” he said. “You must first consult the industries, do sufficient public participation, and Kenyans will come up with a way of making sure that the businessman is safe, the quality of alcohol is good, and the age limits are applied accordingly.”
He added that the crackdown could wipe out jobs and worsen youth unemployment. “So many people are hired by these companies; if 1.3 million people lose their jobs, I think the demonstrations will be more on the streets,” he warned.
What’s the right approach to alcohol regulation in Kenya?
For Maanzo, the answer lies in balancing safety with economic stability. “Make laws that make sure that the society is safe… but not to destroy businesses, yet you want to collect taxes and build a nation,” he said.
NACADA’s proposed changes, unveiled Wednesday, are part of a broader national policy against drug and substance abuse. The authority seeks to ban online alcohol sales, influencer marketing, and drinking in public spaces while raising the legal drinking age to 21. Public and stakeholder consultations are expected before the proposals become law.
By Lucky Anyanje
