A man identified as Mark Pollard has raised concerns over the quality of alcoholic beverages in Kenya after claiming he became seriously ill on two occasions within 10 days of consuming local liquor.
Pollard said the episodes left him dealing with severe vomiting and stomach problems, prompting him to call for improved standards in Kenya’s alcohol industry.
In a video that has since gone viral, Pollard expressed his frustration, saying, “Please fix Kenyan liquor. I vomited 15 times.”
According to Pollard, the illness occurred twice within 10 days after he consumed alcohol, leading him to question the quality and safety standards governing liquor sold in the country.
His remarks have sparked conversations about the safety of alcoholic beverages available to consumers, particularly amid longstanding concerns over counterfeit and substandard alcohol products.
However, Pollard’s experience alone does not establish that Kenyan liquor caused his illness.
Severe vomiting after drinking alcohol can have several possible causes, including excessive alcohol consumption, food poisoning, contamination or an underlying medical condition.
Determining the exact cause would require medical assessment and, where necessary, testing of the product consumed.
However, his claims come as several liquor brands from the Kenyan market face a ban in Rwanda.
On August 8, the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority ordered an immediate ban and nationwide recall of 52 imported alcoholic beverage brands over concerns about compliance with the country’s safety and quality standards.
The directive affected products from several countries, with importers, distributors, and hospitality establishments ordered to stop sales and return remaining stock pending further analysis.
Kenyan spirits have also come under increased scrutiny following a UK travel advisory warning travellers in Kenya about the risks of counterfeit alcohol and advising caution when consuming locally purchased spirits, unsealed mixed drinks, and suspiciously cheap alcoholic beverages.
