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By Oscar Okhifo
The Catholic Church in Kenya has officially replaced its long-used altar wine after it became a popular choice in bars and liquor stores across the country, sparking concern among the clergy and faithful over the loss of its sacred meaning.
The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) unveiled a new brand known as “Mass Wine,” which will now serve as the official sacramental wine for all Catholic churches in the country.
The change aims to restore the sanctity of the wine used during the Holy Eucharist and prevent its misuse in secular settings.
According to Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba, chairman of the KCCB, the new wine is “specifically consecrated and reserved for liturgical use.”
He explained that Mass Wine bears the official coat of arms of the KCCB and the Archbishop’s signature to ensure authenticity and compliance with Canon Law.
“The Church has decided to restrict the sale and distribution of the new altar wine to dioceses only. It will not be available in bars, supermarkets, or liquor shops. This is to maintain its sacred nature and protect it from commercialisation,” the Archbishop said.
The new wine, imported from South Africa, was first used publicly during the National Prayer Day at Subukia National Marian Shrine in Nakuru on October 4, 2025.
Its label carries a spiritual inscription:
“The fruit of the vine and the work of human hands will become our cup of joy,” the Bishop said, underscoring its holy purpose.
The decision followed growing concerns that the previous altar wine, locally produced and easily available on the open market, had become too common.
Reports indicated that it had become a favourite drink in bars and hotels, prompting outcry from sections of the clergy and laity who said it had “lost its sanctity.”
Archbishop Anthony Muheria of Nyeri Diocese noted that the Church could not ignore how “what was meant to be sacred was being consumed as an ordinary drink,” describing the development as spiritually troubling.
While many faithful have welcomed the new move, describing it as necessary to restore reverence to the Eucharist, others have raised practical concerns. Some parishioners expressed uncertainty about how quickly the transition will be implemented in remote parishes, while others worried about the cost implications of importing the wine.
“There are questions about whether the new wine will be affordable for smaller parishes and if the supply will reach all dioceses consistently,” one Catholic lay leader in Kisumu told local reporters.
Despite these concerns, the Church leadership maintains that the reform is an important step in safeguarding the integrity of Catholic worship.
The KCCB has directed all parishes nationwide to phase out the old brand and source their Eucharistic wine exclusively through diocesan offices.
The move, church leaders said, is not just about the wine itself, but about preserving the spiritual distinction between what is holy and what is ordinary.
“By setting apart this wine exclusively for Mass, we remind ourselves and the faithful that what happens at the altar is not common. It is sacred,” Archbishop Makumba said.