Soft drink gets the thumbs up from Kosgey

• Tests carried by the Government Chemist and Kenya Bureau of Standards showed it is non-alcoholic.
• Rachel Shebesh sought to have sales of Alvaro stopped pending tests on its contents.

It is now official — the latest addition to East African Breweries Limited’s stable, Alvaro, has no alcoholic content.

The verdict came from Industrialisation minister, Henry Kosgey, who sought to put to rest claims by some MPs linking the drink to the wave of violent strikes in Kenyan schools.

He said that seven tests carried by the Government Chemist and the Kenya Bureau of Standards backed what its manufacturers have always maintained it is: a carbonated, non-alcoholic, and unfermented drink.

“Alvaro conforms to Kenya Bureau of Standards specifications for non-alcoholic drinks,” Mr Kosgey said.

The minister showed certificates issued by the Kenya Bureau of Standards confirming Alvaro’s contents.

He was answering Ms Rachel Shebesh (nominated, ODM) who wanted to know if there was any alcoholic content in Alvaro.

The MP also sought to have sales of Alvaro stopped pending tests on its contents.

She claimed some schools had tested Alvaro in their laboratories and found it to be alcoholic.

She was supported by Yatta’s Charles Kilonzo (ODM-K).

“It has tested positive for alcohol in schools … If you expose Alvaro to sunshine for one hour, it turns alcoholic,” he said.

Mr Kosgey challenged them to name the schools that tested the drink and present their findings in the House.

Internal Security assistant minister Orwa Ojodeh supported Mr Kosgey and demanded to see the results of the tests.