Pattiala Distillers Rejects Claims Linking Company to DP Kindiki
Pattiala Distillers Rejects Claims Linking Company to DP Kindiki
Pattiala Distillers has dismissed claims linking the company to Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, describing the allegations as false and malicious.
Speaking to journalists at the company’s main plant in Nairobi, Pattiala Distillers’ lawyer, Danstan Omari, warned politicians spreading the claims to stop what he termed a campaign of misinformation or face legal action.
Omari said the company was prepared to issue demand notices against individuals who continue to circulate what he described as unfounded allegations about the ownership of the firm.
Pattiala Distillers manufactures several alcoholic beverage brands, including Blue Ice Vodka, Flying Horse Gin and Diamond Ice Liqueur.
The company said it is a significant contributor to the economy, directly employing more than 600 workers and supporting an estimated 35,000 others indirectly through its distribution network.
According to the company, it also remits up to Sh1.2 billion in taxes annually, further highlighting its contribution to government revenue.
The distiller also rejected allegations that its products are counterfeit, urging consumers to use specific security features on its bottles to verify the authenticity of its products.
The company’s quality assurance officer Mr Mugiira Nthiga said consumers should check for the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) excise stamp and a QR code on the bottle top. The QR code, the officer said, should correspond with the batch number displayed on the bottle neck.
The clarification comes amid heightened concerns over the proliferation of illicit alcoholic drinks in Kenya, with authorities stepping up operations against manufacturers and distributors suspected of producing or selling unsafe alcohol.
Pattiala Distillers said it supports efforts to combat illicit alcohol but maintained that legitimate manufacturers should not be unfairly associated with counterfeit or illegal products.
The company urged consumers to verify products before purchase and called on politicians and other stakeholders to rely on factual information when making claims about businesses
