Keroche Breweries

Keroche Breweries Limited is the second-largest brewery in Kenya and the first major brewery owned by a non-multinational Kenyan entrepreneur, breaking the 80-year monopoly previously held by East African Breweries Limited. Founded in 1997 in Naivasha by Tabitha Mukami Muigai Karanja and her husband Joseph Muigai Karanja, the company began as a fortified wine maker targeting lower-income consumers, then diversified into ready-to-drink vodka in 2007 and full-scale beer brewing in 2008. Flagship brands include Summit Lager, Summit Malt, Viena Ice vodka, Crescent Vodka, and Keroche Water. The company's 1 million hectoliter Naivasha Brewhouse uses 21st-century brewing technology. Tabitha Karanja stepped down as CEO on 12 June 2023 to focus on her political career as elected Senator for Nakuru County (UDA Party) and Deputy Majority Leader in the Kenyan Senate; former CFO Potas Anaya succeeded her as CEO. Joseph Karanja serves as Chairman. Tabitha has received numerous awards including the Moran of the Burning Spear (2009), the 2014 CNBC Africa Businesswoman of the Year, and the 2015 Africa Transformational Business Award. The company is currently experiencing operational difficulties related to a long-running tax dispute with the Kenya Revenue Authority.