A Kenyan man is minting money in the UK by brewing and selling the locally produced alcoholic drink, Muratina.
The brew is largely illegal in Kenya, however, for King'ori Wambaki, the Kikuyu traditional drink has made him a household name in Cheshunt, UK.
Wambaki has spent over 27 years in England, shifting from studies, working for foreigners and unveiling his own business.
He packages the drink, dubbed Muratelia, as wine spiced with honey. It contains 12 percent alcohol and is sold to customers under the age of 35.
Muratelia is sold at between £10 (Ksh 1,491) and £25 (Ksh 3,727) depending on whether it’s sold on counters, retail shops, or restaurants.
"Cheshunt is located outside London. We used ingredients that are available here in the UK as we have not yet reached a point where we can import products from Kenya.
"The business provides income better than what I can earn while being employed, Wambaki who hails from Othaya, Nyeri stated.
He disclosed that he made in-depth research and business plans on how to market his product. It has also been incorporated in the modelling and fashion industry through branded bags and clothes.
He supplies his commodity to three restaurants and four shops in the UK.
What worked for him was that he had no competition as the drink was a new entity in the UK market.
"The drink is aimed at the millennial market but it has received interest from older generations too," he stated while speaking to Kenyans.co.ke.
According to his LinkedIn page, the economist holds a Master of Science in Finance and Management and a Bachelor of Science in Economics.
