The Ministry of Interior on Sunday cleared 13 more companies to continue manufacturing second-generation alcohol.
In a statement to the press, the Ministry indicated that the 13 joined two that had earlier been cleared after undergoing a vetting process.
The two, which are Kenya Nut Company Limited and UDV, had been cleared in May after the initial vetting process.
The 13 alcohol firms that passed the rigorous test during the re-vetting exercise included; Patiala Distillers Kenya Limited, Savannah Brands Company Limited, Kenya Wine Agencies Limited, Manchester Distillers Limited, FRM EA Packers Limited and Corobus Africa Products Limited.
Others are Zheng Hong(K) Limited, Two Cousins Distillers Limited, Lyniber Supplies Limited, Elle Kenya Limited, Agro Chemical & Food Co. Limited, Crywan Enterprises and London Distillers Kenya Limited.
The Ministry noted that the vetting exercise followed a 25-point enforcement programme announced by the government.
The measures to guarantee the authenticity of second-generational alcohol included the immediate suspension of all licenses, permits, and authorisations for the manufacture and distillery of second-generation alcohol, and a further directive that fresh vetting be undertaken within twenty-one (21) days to ensure compliance of establishments with security, safety, health, labour, environmental and other standards as defined in relevant National laws.
The 15 were cleared to continue operating after the State, at the beginning of May, revoked the licenses of all the 29 companies manufacturing second-generation alcohol.
While revoking the licenses, the then Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki announced new measures that all the companies were expected to adhere to.
At the time, he also announced that the government was planning to introduce taxes on liquor based on alcoholic content as a means to tame the proliferation of illicit brew.
"The National Treasury is urged to fast-track the harmonisation of custom and excise duty of ethanol with the EAC region to prevent arbitrage within 45 days.
"Further, within 60 days, the National Treasury shall conclude taxation proposals towards the incorporation of a model of taxation based on alcoholic content and review the taxation of beer and other non-spirituous drinks to mitigate the risk of harmful effect," he directed.
