It is significantly cheaper to purchase wine outside of Kenya, with sector players attributing this to high import taxes. This challenge has driven up prices, making wine consumption less accessible to the average consumer compared to other alcoholic beverages.

• A bottle of wine in Kenya can cost five or six times more than in South Africa due to high import taxes, according to Greg Guy, International director of DGB.
• The high taxation on wine imports in Kenya also incentivizes smuggling, which is detrimental to the industry.
• Despite tax challenges, wine consumption in Kenya is increasingly seen as a trend, with many hotels and restaurants now offering dedicated wine lists.
• The Kenyan wine market is the number one African export market for DGB, a South African premium wine producer.
• Retail wine prices in Kenya typically range from approximately KSh 1,000 to over KSh 50,000 for a 750ml bottle.