This archive report was first published on 20 August 2019.
On August 20, 2019, the National Assembly Trade Committee Chairman Kanini Kega led a tour of container freight stations in Mombasa, where they examined confiscated edible oils.
The committee stopped the release of the oils, worth Sh10 billion, after reports that 47 out of 503 containers had been released to importers following a government waiver.
According to Mr. Kega, the retesting will be fast-tracked, and Kenyans will know the outcome in the next 14 days.
Committee Vice Chairman Cornelly Serem emphasized the need for a concurrence report from the Ministry of Health, confirming the oils are fit for human consumption.
Trade Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya had recently dispelled fears that the imported oils were not fortified with vitamin A or were harmful to consumers.
The committee's decision was made after previous tests confirmed the oils lacked vitamin A, and if the retest confirms the same, the oils will be destroyed or returned to their countries of origin.
