Directorate of Criminal Investigation and a multi-agency team has sent out a warning that Kenyans could be consuming poisonous sugar been sold in the market.
Security agencies probing the case say that brown sugar packed in 20,000, 50Kg bags was imported into the country in June 2018 by Marako Investments Limited from Harare Zimbambwe.
Upon arrival into the country, the sugar was processed by the Kenya Bureau of Standards officials and was proven to be non-compliant with Kenya’s quality standards and was prohibited for used.
KEBS officials say that goods that not meet the local quality standard should not be allowed into the country and should be re-shipped, returned or destroyed at the expense of the importer.
After the sugar was condemned, the commodities were taken to a warehouse in Makongeni, Thika where it is suspected it was stored for he last four years.
The Letter
However, in December 2022, KEBS Managing Director Bernard Njiraini wrote to KRA’S General , saying that the standards agency had received a request from the Assets and Cargo LTD to convert the prohibited sugar into ethanol through distillation.
The letter was copied to CS Moses Kuria and Head of Public Service Felix Kosgey. It was later received by the KRA boss five days later.
KEBS MD, also told the KRA General that the standard act ideally provided non-complaint goods be shipped back or destroyed by owners cost.
Mr. Bernard noted that KEBS had reviewed the process for destruction of the condemned brown sugar and approved for its destruction into ethanol via distillation from approved manufactures.
However, KRA had not taken any action, but on April 29, Faith Kiara on behalf of the Commissioner Intelligence Strategic Operations Investigations and Enforcement, wrote a letter to release the sugar on the terms that pending taxes be paid 30 days after its release.
Approval
After the government agencies approved the release of the consignment, KEBS sent its inspection officer to Thika on May 4, to join the multi agency team officers and the DCI who were to open the warehouse forcefully to confirm whether the consignment was still in place.
However, the inspection officer, and both the multi agency and DCI were met with an empty warehouse, despite the existense of KRA seals on the locks.
Showing possibilities that the sugar had already hit the market and could be on shelves for sale, DCI has launched investigations and is also searching for the consignment as it pursues KEBS bosses over the whereabouts of the condemned sugar that was meant to be destroyed.
But with four years in storage , the condemned sugar could have already hit he market and be consumed by Kenyans without their knowledge.
Also Read:DCI Given Green Light To Open Politician’;s Safe In Ksh12.7M Gold Scam Probe
