Cases of counterfeit and illicit alcohol have continued to raise concern in Kenya, prompting authorities to intensify enforcement while urging consumers to take greater responsibility for verifying the products they buy.
One of the tools available to consumers is the Kenya Revenue Authority’s (KRA) Soma Label app, a mobile application designed to help members of the public verify the authenticity of excise stamps placed on products.
Speaking on the issue, Amos Warui, Deputy Director for Compliance at the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), recently addressed the growing counterfeit alcohol problem during an interview on Citizen TV.
Warui warned consumers that counterfeiters can use fake KRA excise stamps to make illicit alcoholic products appear legitimate.
“Counterfeit alcohol will always have fake KRA stamps. KRA has an app called Soma Label, which allows you to scan an alcoholic drink and verify whether it is legit or otherwise,” Warui said.
Soma Label is a mobile application that supports KRA’s Excisable Goods Management System (EGMS). According to KRA, the application enables consumers to verify the authenticity of excise stamps affixed to products.
KRA introduced the system as part of efforts to combat illicit trade and counterfeiting of excisable goods. The authority says excise stamps use security features and track-and-trace technology designed to help distinguish legitimate products from illicit ones.
Alcoholic beverages are among the products covered by the excise stamp system.
The application gives consumers a way to check a product themselves instead of relying solely on its appearance, branding or the presence of a physical KRA stamp.
The KRA excise stamp is intended to demonstrate that a product has entered the regulated excise system. However, counterfeiters can attempt to reproduce stamps and packaging to make illegal products resemble genuine products.
KRA has previously warned that it is an offence to manufacture, sell or possess excisable goods carrying counterfeit stamps. The authority has also encouraged members of the public to use Soma Label to check the authenticity of excise stamps.
KRA says illicit trade not only affects government revenue and legitimate manufacturers but can also expose unsuspecting consumers to potentially hazardous products.
The basic purpose of Soma Label is straightforward: scan the relevant excise stamp and use the result to determine whether the stamp is authentic.
KRA’s user guide shows that the application includes a scanning function, an activity section that keeps a record of scans and a reporting function for users who encounter problems. The application also provides information about the security features found on different excise stamps.
Consumers should therefore have the application installed before purchasing alcohol if they want to verify a product at the point of purchase.
If a product cannot be successfully verified or the application produces a result indicating a problem with the stamp, consumers should avoid purchasing or consuming the product and consider reporting the issue to the relevant authorities.
KRA’s official guidance also provides channels for reporting stamp-related concerns.
The Soma Label mobile application is available on Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store. Consumers should take care to download the official application rather than an unrelated third-party app.
The application system covers products including alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, water and other excisable goods.
Warui has also urged consumers to go beyond checking the KRA stamp and apply basic checks before buying alcohol.
The first is Place. Consumers should purchase alcohol from reputable, licensed outlets rather than informal or suspicious sellers.
The second is Price. An unusually cheap bottle should raise questions, particularly where the price is significantly below what established retailers charge.
The third is Packaging. Consumers should inspect the bottle, label, cap and other packaging for signs of tampering, poor printing, spelling mistakes or inconsistencies.
The fourth is Product. Consumers should pay attention to unusual smells, tastes, appearance or sediment that could indicate that something is wrong with the drink.
These checks do not replace official verification, but they can provide additional warning signs.
The warnings come as Kenyan authorities step up operations against illicit and counterfeit alcohol.
NACADA recently announced a multi-agency crackdown in Nairobi that resulted in 11 arrests between August 20 and 31, 2026, with operations conducted across eight sub-counties identified as areas of concern in the manufacture, distribution and sale of illicit and counterfeit alcoholic products.
KRA has also previously conducted operations targeting illicit liquor and counterfeit excise stamps. The authority has said such products can harm consumers while denying the government revenue and undermining legitimate businesses.
