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Kenya’s Catholic Church Replaces Altar Wine After It Becomes Popular in Bars
NAIROBI — The Catholic Church in Kenya has officially replaced its previous brand of altar wine after it became widely available in local bars and shops, raising concerns over its sanctity.
The new wine, simply labelled “Mass Wine”, was unveiled during the country’s National Prayer Day held at the Subukia National Marian Shrine in Nakuru on Saturday. The new sacramental wine is marked with the coat of arms of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and bears an official signature to authenticate its liturgical purpose.
Speaking to the media, Archbishop Anthony Muheria of Nyeri emphasized that the new wine is “not for sale at any business outlet” and is solely imported, owned, and distributed by the KCCB to dioceses across the country.
“Vigilance on the quality and standards of the wine and hosts used in the Mass is given to the Catholic bishops of the country,” said Archbishop Muheria. “This is reviewed from time to time.”
The move comes after the Church discovered that the previous altar wine, produced by a local alcohol manufacturer, had found its way into bars, supermarkets, liquor shops, and hotels, prompting backlash from members of the Catholic community who feared it had lost its sacred significance.
“It had become common that unfortunately, the former wine is readily available in secular outlets and bars,” Muheria told the BBC.
Following extensive deliberation, the Church settled on a South African vintage as the new official sacramental wine.
Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba, chairman of the KCCB, directed all parishes to immediately discontinue the use of the old wine and adhere strictly to the new distribution guidelines.
The new label includes the inscription:
“The fruit of the vine and the work of human hands will become our cup of joy” — a symbolic reference to the Eucharistic celebration.
Altar wine, known locally in Swahili as “divai”, plays a central role in Catholic Mass, where it is believed to be transubstantiated into the blood of Christ. Its use varies across dioceses and is in especially high demand during major religious events such as Easter and Christmas.
The decision has been broadly welcomed by Kenya’s Catholic faithful, many of whom had voiced concerns over the casual sale of the previous wine brand.
“It’s a valid step toward preserving the sacredness of the Eucharist,” one Catholic parishioner told the BBC.
Kenya is a predominantly Christian nation, with over 80% of its 50 million citizens identifying as Christian. Catholics make up around 10 million, or 20% of the population.
