This archive report was first published on 30 September 2019.
On March 29, 2018, Kieni MP Kanini Kega addressed the media at Parliament, highlighting the confusion surrounding the 500,000 bags of contraband sugar impounded the previous year.
The sugar had been seized on suspicion of containing mercury, and a multi-agency team comprising the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Kebs, and the Ministry of Trade was formed to investigate the matter.
However, Kebs Managing Director Bernard Njiraini failed to provide a clear answer on the whereabouts of the sugar, contradicting himself in the process.
When asked how many bags had been destroyed, Njiraini replied, "I cannot say how many bags have been destroyed."
He later added, "If we go to the stores, we will find the sugar and if we don’t, we will find a report that it has been destroyed."
Lawmakers were left wondering why Njiraini could not provide a definite answer, given that Kebs is at the centre of the probe.
Committee Chairman Kanini Kega stated that a tour to various go-downs where the sugar was held showed that it was not possible to open the stores without the consent of all members of the multi-agency team.
"When we went to the go-downs, there were four locks. The go-downs cannot be opened without all the members of the multi-agency team being aware," said Mr Kega.
Lawmakers also questioned Kebs on the status of edible oils that were released to an importer despite lacking Vitamin A.
"You tested the oils in 2018, and they failed the test. How did they acquire Vitamin A later?" Kega asked.
