Presidents enjoy banquets as dignitaries, whether at home or across the border. Kenya's presidents also have a history of throwing parties for guests, especially their foreign counterparts.
Of all five Kenyan Presidents, the incumbent, William Ruto, confessed to being a teetotaler. Reports indicated that the Kenya Kwanza President brought down a bar he allegedly found built inside State House.
However, the four past presidents before Ruto are renowned as bibbers. Kenyans.co.ke lists four past presidents and their favourite drink.
President Jomo Kenyatta
Muratina was Kenyatta’s favourite drink which, according to close operatives, he used to wash down roasted goat ribs.
The drink is a wine made from the fruit of the muratina tree, commonly called the “sausage tree” (Kigelia Africana).
It is popular in the Mt. Kenya region, especially, among the Kikuyu community.
President Daniel Moi
On February 12, 2020, Moi’s doctor, Dr David Silverstein, revealed that Moi loved taking Israeli wine before sleeping.
"We had a 42-year doctor-patient relationship with Mzee Moi, yes, he loved his meat and sweet, kosher, sacramental wine from Israel - dawa ya wazee," Silverstein added.
This information was shared with the public for the first time after Moi passed away.
President Mwai Kibaki
Kibaki’s favourite drink was White Cap, a beer named after the snow-capped Mt. Kenya.
His drinking habit waned after the December 2002 accident confined him to a wheelchair. His doctors advised him to go slow on alcohol.
“He only ordered for his drinks, forgetting the persons sitting next to him. He attested to the fact that he would not overspend on his outings. We always liked his idea of spending what one can afford,” former Nyandarua Deputy Governor Waithaka Mwangi joked that Kibaki would sometimes avoid ordering drinks for his friends in a bid to pinch his pennies.
President Uhuru Kenyatta
Uhuru loved beer, whisky, and wine. His favourite beer was said to be Tusker, and he favoured Nederburg Cabernet Sauvignon for wine.
On July 4, 2019, during Bob Collymore’s memorial service, Uhuru noted that he was disappointed that he had not met the deceased to collect a special gift. The special gift was a rare whisky called Johnnie Walker Directors Blend.
“I was supposed to have gone back to collect my gift reserved for a special friend from Bob and so Peter Kenneth, Oigara and crew, you will pay. That did not belong to you," stated the former president in jest.
