Members of Parliament have raised concerns over 27,839 metric tonnes of imported sugar in Kenya. Legislators fear the sugar could pose health risks to consumers.
The concerns emerged during a National Assembly committee meeting on Tuesday, May 12. Officials from the Kenya Sugar Board attended the session.
Lawmakers questioned officials over the whereabouts of the controversial sugar consignment. Mombasa Sugar Refinery Limited imported the sugar valued at around Ksh1.5 billion.
According to MPs, tests conducted by the Kenya Bureau of Standards flagged the sugar earlier. The tests reportedly classified it as raw sugar meant for refining only.
Legislators argued that the sugar was not fit for direct human consumption. They also questioned how authorities moved it from Mombasa to Nairobi.
Committee chairperson Benard Shinali demanded movement clearance documents from the board officials. MPs insisted they needed urgent answers to protect public safety.
Kenya Sugar Board Defends Handling Process
Jude Chesire, the Kenya Sugar Board CEO, defended the handling process strongly. He assured lawmakers that the sugar never entered the consumer market.
According to Chesire, police officers currently guard the sugar consignment in Nairobi. Officials also locked and sealed the sugar storage facility securely.
The board further explained that authorities would electronically track trucks transporting the sugar later. Officials plan moving the consignment to a warehouse in Kisumu.
KSB Director for Regulation and Compliance Samwel Kembo also addressed the committee during the session. He insisted the sugar remained sealed throughout transportation.
Officials revealed that the sugar arrived from South Africa in early February through Mombasa port. Authorities later flagged the consignment during verification checks in March.
Investigators reportedly discovered an extra 1,481 tonnes that officials had not manifested properly. Customs and regulatory agencies then placed the shipment under multi-agency surveillance.
The sugar initially stayed at a bonded warehouse managed by the Kenya Ports Authority in Mombasa. Authorities later transferred part of it to Nairobi under supervision.
Kembo maintained that officials never diverted the sugar into local retail markets. He said the first shipment reached Nairobi through the Standard Gauge Railway on May 3.
Concerns Grow Over Food Safety
Lawmakers expressed fears because similar cases happened previously within the sugar sector. Some past consignments reportedly entered markets despite safety concerns.
The controversy now emerges as Kenya pushes to increase local sugar production nationwide. The government also wants reducing dependence on imported sugar products.
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