Production, Sale, and Distribution of Unrecorded Liquor in Kakamega and Uasin Gishu Counties in Kenya

Abstract

Alcohol not captured in government statistics is referred to as unrecorded alcohol and accounts for 25% of all alcohol consumed globally, with prevalence in low and middle-income countries, Kenya inclusive. Alcohol control in Kenya is backed by national policies and executive orders since the colonial period. However, the control of unrecorded alcohol has not been effective given its growth and persistence in the country, despite government efforts towards the standardization of artisanal alcohol. This study sought to investigate the factors that motivate individuals to produce and trade in illegal artisanal liquor in Kakamega and Uasin-Gishu counties. A crosssectional research design was adopted, and both qualitative and quantitative data were collected using interview schedules and questionnaires from 30 illicit brew traders and 124 National Government Administrators (NGAOs) at the street level respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented thematically. It was found that bribery, poverty, laxity among authorities, high demand for Chang’aa and Busaa, as well as the quest for profit, among other factors, motivated individuals to produce, sell, and distribute unrecorded alcohol in Kakamega and Uasin-Gishu counties