Why transporters are against proposed 6am-to-6pm alcohol transport restriction

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The proposed restrictions on the transportation of alcoholic beverages could cost thousands of jobs, disrupt regional trade and expose Kenya’s logistics sector to billions of shillings in losses, the Kenya Transporters Association (KTA) has warned.

The association is urging Parliament to review provisions in the Alcoholic Drinks and Drugs Control Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, arguing that the proposed measures risk punishing legitimate businesses while doing little to dismantle the criminal networks behind the illicit alcohol trade.

At the centre of KTA’s concerns is a proposal to restrict the transportation of alcoholic beverages to between 6am and 6pm, a measure the association says could interfere with the operations of long-distance freight companies and increase the cost of moving goods across the country and the region.

KTA Chairman Newton Wang’oo said the industry supports government efforts to eliminate illicit alcohol and protect consumers but warned that the proposed restrictions could have far-reaching consequences for legitimate transport operators.

Read: Before raising the drinking age, sober up the debate

“We fully support efforts to eliminate illicit alcohol, but the solution must target criminal networks, not law-abiding transporters. Restricting the movement of legitimate cargo will disrupt supply chains, threaten jobs and increase the cost of doing business, while doing little to stop those who already operate outside the law. Kenya can fight illicit alcohol without crippling legitimate trade,” Mr Wang’oo said.

According to the association’s preliminary industry analysis, alcohol-related freight supports approximately 7,500 direct jobs, generates an estimated Sh43.9 billion in annual freight revenue and accounts for the equivalent of 3,000 trucks operating across Kenya and the region.

KTA estimates that the proposed restrictions could reduce transport capacity by between 14.3 per cent and 33.3 per cent, putting between Sh6.3 billion and Sh14.6 billion in annual freight revenue at risk.

The association argues that the proposed restriction on movement outside the 6am-to-6pm window fails to recognise the complexity of modern freight operations, which depend on coordinated movement between ports, customs facilities, warehouses, weighbridges and regional border crossings.

Transporters, particularly those handling long-distance and international cargo, often operate around the clock to meet delivery schedules, clear cargo at border points and avoid congestion along major transport routes.

A rigid daytime schedule could therefore leave trucks stranded at various points along the supply chain, resulting in delays, higher operational costs and possible disruptions to deliveries.

The concerns also extend beyond alcohol distributors and transport companies to businesses that depend on efficient freight services, including manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and other players in the supply chain.

KTA warned that additional costs arising from reduced transport capacity and longer delivery times could eventually be passed on to consumers through higher prices.

The transporters also warned that proposed restrictions could also affect Kenya’s competitiveness as a regional logistics hub, particularly given its role in facilitating the movement of goods to landlocked countries within the East African Community and the wider Great Lakes region.

The association is also concerned about proposals that could introduce additional licensing requirements for transporters, saying these would increase the regulatory burden on businesses already operating under existing transport and cargo compliance frameworks.

It wants Parliament to remove the proposed 6am-to-6pm restriction, protect legitimate long-distance freight and international transit cargo, and eliminate unnecessary additional transport licensing requirements.

The association is further calling for transporters to be shielded from liability for offences committed by third parties where they have exercised reasonable due diligence.

Read: Manufacturers reject proposed alcohol laws, warn of Sh3.3bn sales hit

It argues that the responsibility for combating illicit alcohol should be shared among manufacturers, distributors, regulators, enforcement agencies and other players in the supply chain, rather than being transferred disproportionately to transport companies.

Instead of imposing blanket restrictions, KTA wants the government to invest in digital traceability systems and intelligence-led enforcement to identify suspicious consignments and track products from manufacturers to their final destinations.

The association is also seeking a comprehensive economic impact assessment before the proposed measures are implemented, alongside meaningful consultations with transport stakeholders to ensure that the final legislation addresses the illicit alcohol problem without creating unintended economic consequences.

It cautioned that legislation aimed at eliminating illicit trade should be carefully designed to avoid disrupting legitimate commercial activity, particularly in a sector that supports thousands of livelihoods and facilitates trade across national borders.

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