Challenges Facing The Implementation Of Kenya’s Alcoholic Drinks Control Act 2010

Abstract

The negative effects of alcohol consumption in Kenya are known and acknowledged in different perspectives: socially, it has disintegrated families; economically, it has derailed the lives of individuals; societal and national capital and health wise, it has caused untimely deaths. Alcohol is blamed for different diseases. It is the source of suffering in families through domestic violence, neglect of responsibilities and high poverty levels. The Alcoholic Drinks Control Act 2010 was introduced by the government as a legal framework to counter all the problems related to alcohol through regulation of alcohol promotions, licensing and provisions of treatment and rehabilitation of addicts. Despite the presence of the legislation in Kenya, the problems associated with alcohol are still rampant. This is evidenced by illicit brew trade and deaths associated with it, proliferations of counterfeit alcoholic brands, liquor outlets operating without proper licensing, and underage drinking and adulteration of liquor. This study sought to examine the challenges facing the implementation of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act 2010. The study is qualitative, and utilized secondary sources of data by analyzing research reports from studies carried out in different parts of Kenya on challenges facing the implementation of the law. It found that the main challenges facing the implementation of the law are: corruption, inadequate human resources to implement the law, trade in counterfeit alcohol brands that is not properly regulated, devolution of alcohol control function, litigations against the Act, and inadequate knowledge concerning the law