Kenyan distiller refutes alleged ties to deputy president, threatens legal action

Kenyan beverage manufacturer Patiala Distillers Limited on Friday strongly refuted social media claims alleging that Kenyan Deputy President Kithure Kindiki holds ownership stakes in the enterprise, announcing plans to initiate legal proceedings against politicians propagating the allegations.

Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi on Friday, lead counsel Danstan Omari, accompanied by lawyers Stanley Kinyanjui and legal director Brian Muriithi, confirmed that the firm has instructed its legal team to issue demand notices to key political figures involved in circulating the claims.

“Professor Kithure Kindiki does not own any shares in Patiala Distillers. He has no shareholding whatsoever in this company,” Omari stated, clarifying that the Deputy President maintains no operational or managerial role in the enterprise.

The company’s legal counsel specifically cited Senators John Methu and Karungo Thang’wa as targets for upcoming legal notices, cautioning political figures against leveraging private commercial enterprises to advance political agendas.

“Patiala is a business entity. It will remain independent of political affiliations and will not be used as a vehicle for political interests,” Omari added.

Addressing separate claims regarding product safety and market compliance, executive management representatives—including Mugiira Ntiga, Peter Kaimba, and Felix Odongo—denied allegations involving the production or distribution of counterfeit alcoholic products in regional markets.

Company officials emphasized that Patiala Distillers operates in full compliance with regulatory frameworks established by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), and the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA). They advised consumers to verify product authenticity through official packaging labels, security seals, and excise stamps.

The development comes amid heightened regulatory scrutiny across Kenya’s manufacturing sector following announcements by government authorities regarding comprehensive nation-wide quality control inspections for all licensed alcohol manufacturers.