East African Breweries – which operates as a subsidiary of global drinks producer Diageo – is a Kenya-based producer of beverages including the famous Tusker Lager brand of beer. The Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed company employs approximately 1,600 people across a number of African subsidiaries in countries such as Uganda, Tanzania and South Sudan.

Providing legal support to the company is a team led by Wambui Kosgey, group legal director. Wambui’s team acts as a bedrock for the company’s geographically and legally diverse operations, overseeing the licencing and regulatory issues surrounding its new products, including Tusker Cider, in addition to managing its already large portfolio of brands in a highly regulated market. Indeed, despite initial opposition from industry bodies, East African Breweries has spoken in support of measures surrounding excise stamps in the form of the mooted Excisable Goods Management System (EGMS).

This has come in response to concerns about counterfeiters producing inauthentic beverages that have potential to taint the reputation of the company and its relationship with consumers. The legal team has been required to act quickly to ensure unsafe or poor quality imitations of the brand’s famous alcoholic drinks do not reach the market.