Former Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has proposed a Sh250 minimum retail price for a 250ml bottle of spirits, arguing that a price floor could help expose and curb the sale of illicit ethanol-based alcohol in Kenya.
Kuria wants government agencies and alcohol industry players to first establish the true cost of producing ethanol-based drinks before businesses selling significantly cheaper products are investigated.
Highlights
- Kuria wants 250ml spirits to retail for at least Sh250.
- He cited an estimated ethanol production cost of Sh1 per millilitre.
- He proposed a multi-agency team to verify the figures.
- Businesses selling spirits below the proposed price could face scrutiny.
- Kuria wants changes to the Excise Duty Act revived as standalone amendments.
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Kuria Pushes for Sh250 Price Floor
Former Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has called for the introduction of a minimum retail price of Sh250 for a 250ml bottle of spirits.
In a statement shared on X on Sunday, September 20, 2026, Kuria argued that the proposed price could help authorities identify unusually cheap alcohol products and disrupt the market for illicit ethanol-based drinks.
His proposal is based on industry estimates indicating that producing one millilitre of ethanol-based alcohol costs at least Sh1.
Using that figure, Kuria calculated that producing 250ml would cost about Sh250 before factoring in additional expenses and margins.
Multi-Agency Team Proposed
Kuria wants the government to establish a team bringing together agencies involved in taxation, alcohol regulation, standards and public health.
The proposed team would include the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), National Treasury, Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Bureau of Standards, Ministry of Health and Government Chemist.
He also wants representatives of the alcohol industry, through the Alcoholic Beverages Association of Kenya, involved in determining whether the estimated production cost is accurate.
According to Kuria, the figures should first be independently verified before enforcement action begins.
Businesses Selling Cheap Spirits Under Scrutiny
If the proposed price floor is adopted, Kuria wants authorities to examine businesses selling spirits and other ethanol-based alcoholic products below Sh250 for a 250ml bottle.
The key question, he argues, would be how such products can be sold below the estimated cost of production.
Such scrutiny could potentially help authorities identify products that do not meet regulatory or safety requirements.
Kuria has also called on Parliament to formally establish Sh250 as the recommended retail price for spirits and other ethanol-based alcoholic beverages.
Kuria Seeks Changes to Excise Law
The former CS also wants Parliament to revisit proposed changes to Section 33 of the Excise Duty Act.
He said the amendments previously collapsed alongside the Finance Bill 2024 and should now be brought back as separate legislation.
Kuria said the provisions were intended to strengthen controls over the entry and distribution of ethanol within the Kenyan market.
He recalled working on the proposals alongside former Nominated MP and then Finance Committee chair Kimani Kuria, arguing that Parliament should now treat the matter as a priority.
Warning Over Illicit Alcohol
Kuria’s proposal comes amid continued concern over the availability of illicit and potentially dangerous alcoholic drinks in Kenya.
He warned that the country could face serious consequences if authorities fail to act decisively, particularly as alcohol abuse continues to affect young people.
His proposed price floor would not, on its own, eliminate illicit alcohol, but he argues that it could give regulators another tool for identifying products whose pricing raises questions about their production, taxation or legality.
The proposal is likely to fuel debate among consumers, manufacturers, retailers and policymakers over whether a mandatory or recommended minimum price would effectively address illicit alcohol or create new challenges for the legitimate industry.
The bigger question now is whether putting a floor under alcohol prices can genuinely keep dangerous drinks off the market or whether stronger enforcement is what Kenya needs most.
