- Patiala Distillers has denied claims linking Deputy President Kithure Kindiki to the company.
- The firm says its shareholders and directors are formally recorded and do not include Kindiki.
- Patiala has also rejected allegations that it manufactures or distributes counterfeit alcohol.
- The company says it will pursue legal action over continued claims it considers damaging.
- The government has ordered fresh inspections of alcohol manufacturers across Kenya.
Patiala Distillers has moved to distance itself from claims connecting Deputy President Kithure Kindiki to its alcohol manufacturing business. The company says the Deputy President has no ownership, management or operational role in the firm. It also denies that he is linked to the company through intermediaries or proxies.
The statement comes amid political claims associating the manufacturer with the production and distribution of illicit alcohol in the Mt Kenya region. Patiala says its ownership details are formally recorded with the Registrar of Companies. Its legal team maintains that Kindiki does not appear among the company’s shareholders or directors.
The company was represented by legal director Brian Murithi and lawyers Danstan Omari and Stanley Kinyanjui. The lawyers said Patiala is not affiliated with any political party or political formation. They also warned that the company would use available legal channels against people who continue making what it considers false associations.
Patiala has also rejected allegations questioning the legitimacy of products sold under its brands. The company maintains that it operates as a licensed alcohol manufacturer and says its products are made under the applicable regulatory framework.
Its quality assurance team has urged consumers to distinguish between genuine products and counterfeit drinks that may use similar branding. The company says authentic Patiala products have identifiable physical and chemical characteristics that are standardised through the relevant regulatory processes.
Patiala has further called on consumers to report suspicious alcoholic products and outlets. The company says information on suspected counterfeits can be shared with it or with the relevant government agencies.
The dispute comes at a time when authorities are increasing scrutiny of alcohol manufacturers and sellers across Kenya. Kindiki recently directed enforcement and regulatory agencies to conduct fresh inspections of alcohol manufacturing premises. The exercise is intended to establish whether manufacturers continue to meet health, safety and other regulatory requirements.
The fresh checks will not be limited to businesses operating without licences. Manufacturers that already hold valid permits are also expected to undergo inspection, with authorities assessing whether they are complying with the conditions attached to their licences.
Kindiki has said manufacturers found producing alcoholic drinks harmful to consumers could have their operations shut down. The government has linked the renewed enforcement drive to concerns over illicit, counterfeit and unsafe alcoholic products, particularly in parts of the Mt Kenya region.
Patiala says it supports action against counterfeit and unsafe alcoholic products. At the same time, the company wants legitimate manufacturers and their products to be distinguished from illicit goods bearing copied branding.
The company says consumers should be cautious when buying alcoholic drinks and check the source of products before making purchases. It has also encouraged members of the public to alert authorities when they encounter suspicious products or outlets.
The wider alcohol crackdown is expected to place manufacturers under increased scrutiny as government agencies assess compliance across the industry. For Patiala, the immediate issue is both defending its brand and separating its operations from the allegations linking it to Kindiki.
