ELI MWENDA REVEALS WHY HE REJECTS ALCOHOL BRAND DEALS

Lifestyle creator and podcaster Eli Mwenda has opened up about his decision to never influence alcoholic brands, citing faith and family values.

In a recent candid statement, Mwenda explained the distinction between his individual brand and the podcast he works on, clarifying where he draws the line. “The first thing as a personal brand is, I don’t work with alcohol brands,” Mwenda stated.

He acknowledged that his podcast operates under Progressive Media for Johnny Walker, but emphasised that the collaboration is not product-based. “It’s more CSR. So we don’t promote the product, we promote the CSR. Then when it comes to me as a brand, as an individual, I’ve never touched an alcohol brand.“

He attributed this boundary to his faith, family considerations, and principles that have been implemented in his life over a long period. Mwenda urged fellow creators and entrepreneurs to prioritise their values, insisting that integrity ultimately attracts the right kind of financial opportunities. “It’s really important to put your values first, because you will attract the right kind of money,” he said. “Not to get too preachy, but not all money is good money, in my opinion.“

He warned against the temptation to accept every brand opportunity that comes along, noting that association with a product or company that conflicts with one’s beliefs can have lasting consequences. “If you take opportunities with brands, and then you’re associated with something negative, and it’s not aligned to your faith, you can’t really come back from that,” Mwenda explained.

The lifestyle creator encouraged others to remain their own lane even when peers choose different, potentially more lucrative paths. He argued that those who stay true to their principles over time will find themselves in a smaller, more exclusive field one that can ultimately yield greater rewards.

“I think if you manage to stick to that for a long period of time, and other people take different routes, there’ll be very few of you that have stuck to your guns, and then you can even make way more money in a smaller field, rather than taking every opportunity,” he said.

Mwenda also stated the importance of authenticity in the digital space, arguing that audiences can eventually see through inauthentic promotions. “You can’t really fool people online for a long period of time. People will be able to see through the cracks. If you’re trying to promote something, they’ll see where there’s not a spark or it’s a bad product, they’ll see that you’re not really, really behind it.”