This archive report was first published on 30 July 2019.
On July 30, 2019, a shocking investigative story by NTV journalist Dennis Okari exposed the alarming practice of shops in Nairobi selling meat contaminated with harmful substances. This disturbing revelation shed light on the glaring lack of consumer protection in Kenya and the inefficiency of institutions responsible for food safety.
As we grapple with the scourge of grand corruption within the government, it is imperative that we prioritize the safety of what we eat. The lives of our citizens should never be compromised by corrupt profiteers who seek to profit from selling toxic food.
Strong regulators with the capacity to swiftly investigate allegations of harmful substances in food are essential. They should be followed by extensive public communications campaigns warning citizens about the dangers of poisonous food.
The case of the 5,400-tonne fertiliser consignment imported by OCP Kenya, a Moroccan company, raises serious public health and safety concerns. Despite the government's inaction, the company had already released 2,000 tonnes of the contaminated fertiliser to the public.
While the fate of the consignment remains the subject of ongoing criminal proceedings, the need for transparency and public safety information has become even more pressing. The recent plea bargain deal between the Moroccans and the government has granted the company unconditional rights to release the fertiliser into the market.
The integrity of the laboratories at the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) has been called into question. The impression from court documents is that lab tests at Kebs are subject to the whims and interests of individuals, rather than being conducted in a transparent and reliable manner.
Furthermore, the concentration of power and discretion in the hands of one bureaucracy, particularly where that bureaucracy is run by appointees of a corrupt political elite, poses significant risks. The Kebs has emerged as a playground where different factions of the political elite test their influence and mettle, often resulting in vicious fights over lucrative contracts.
