KEBS responds after Rwanda suspends 5 Kenyan alcohol brands

In a statement issued via X account on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, KEBS said it had taken note of the Rwanda FDA announcement made on August 5, 2026, but reassured consumers, trade partners and the public that the affected products had undergone rigorous conformity assessment, market surveillance, factory inspection, and laboratory testing.

"The products bear valid Standardization Marks and continue to meet the prescribed requirements for quality, safety, and labelling,” KEBS said.

KEBS said the products are certified under East African standards governing gin, vodka and potable spirits, including KS EAS 145:2018, KS EAS 142:2018 and KS EAS 109:2018.

The standards cover requirements such as alcohol content, methanol limits, higher alcohols, esters, volatile acids, packaging, labelling and consumer safety.

Following the Rwanda FDA announcement, the bureau said it immediately launched a comprehensive review involving certification records, quality assurance reports, market surveillance findings, factory inspections and laboratory testing.

The review also included consultations with the affected manufacturers, the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), partner state standards bureaus and the East African Community Quality Assurance and Testing Sub-committee.

According to KEBS, the review confirmed that all five products had been tested against the applicable standards and complied with the prescribed quality and safety requirements.

Historical laboratory reports covering key parameters such as ethyl alcohol content, methanol, higher alcohols, esters, aldehydes and volatile acids were also found to be compliant.

To verify the current status of the products, KEBS conducted targeted inspections of the manufacturing facilities between August 7 and 10, 2026, and collected fresh samples for analysis.

“Laboratory analyses confirmed that all five products complied with the requirements of KS EAS 145:2018 (Gin Specification) and KS EAS 109:2018 (Potable Spirit Specification), including requirements relating to alcohol content, methanol, higher alcohols, esters, aldehydes, volatile acids, and product labelling,” the bureau said.

The inspections also established that the manufacturing facilities were operating in compliance with applicable quality, safety and regulatory requirements, KEBS added.

The bureau further noted that during the 2024/2025 financial year, it sampled and tested 69 potable spirit products available in the Kenyan market, all of which were found to comply with the relevant standards.

KEBS said it is now engaging the Rwanda FDA and other regional regulatory bodies to establish the basis for the temporary suspension and seek a technical resolution through existing East African Community frameworks.

“The Bureau remains committed to protecting consumers, facilitating fair trade, and maintaining confidence in Kenyan products both domestically and across the East African Community,” the statement said.