The National Assembly is considering proposed changes to Kenya’s alcohol laws.
The proposed law would also ban online alcohol sales and home deliveries, restrict outlet locations and increase penalties.
Kenya could raise its legal drinking age from 18 to 21 under a Bill before the National Assembly. The proposal also introduces a Ksh2-per-litre levy on alcoholic drinks manufactured locally or imported into the country.
The Alcoholic Drinks and Drugs Control Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, received its first reading on Thursday, November 5. That step marked the start of its consideration in the House.
If Parliament approves the proposal, people below 21 would no longer be allowed to buy or consume alcohol. Licensed alcohol premises would also have to exclude anyone below that age.
Drinking age proposal targets youth alcohol consumption
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah said the higher age threshold would help protect young people from early alcohol consumption. He argued that many 18-year-olds still lacked the maturity to make informed decisions about their wellbeing.
However, Ichung’wah acknowledged that alcohol manufacturers could oppose the change. He nevertheless maintained that tighter controls were necessary to address alcohol consumption among young Kenyans.
The Bill also seeks to prohibit alcohol sales through online platforms, courier services and home deliveries. It would further ban hawking and sales through vending machines.
Meanwhile, the proposed location rules would prevent alcohol outlets from operating within 300 metres of learning institutions. Together with the admission restrictions, these measures would change where sellers could operate and whom they could admit.
Levy would fund regulation and anti-drug programmes
The proposed Ksh2 levy would help finance alcohol regulation and efforts to address drug abuse. The Bill also seeks to create a National Alcoholic Drinks Control Committee to oversee implementation of alcohol regulations.
Its responsibilities would include licensing alcohol manufacturers and importers. Under the proposal, half of the levy’s annual income would fund the committee’s operations.
At least 15 per cent would also support civil society organisations running programmes against drug abuse. Meanwhile, the Bill proposes tougher penalties for violations of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act.
Offenders would face fines of up to Ksh10 million, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.
During debate, however, Dadaab MP Farah Maalim questioned the omission of miraa and muguka from the proposed legislation. While supporting controls on alcohol consumption, he argued that those substances also required attention.
