This archive report was first published on 2 October 2019.
Published on October 2, 2019, a multi-agency task force on illicit products discovered that the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) released a consignment of edible oils worth Sh10 billion to an importer without their agreement.
Wanyama Musiambo, the head of the task force, told the National Assembly Trade Committee that his team never discussed the release of 48 containers of the consignment after it was impounded last year.
“When the oils tested negative for Vitamin A, that is what we recorded, and it is what we still have today. We have not discussed the release of the oils. As a multi-agency team, we have not sat to discuss the release of the containers and the oil,” said Mr Musiambo.
Kebs boss Bernard Njiraini had previously stated that the oils were released to the importer after a second test was done, but he could not explain how the oils acquired Vitamin A in the second test.
Mr Musiambo emphasized the importance of collective decision-making within the task force, stating, “When we were constituted, we agreed to make collective decisions. Even as the chair, I don't do anything unilaterally so that if there is an issue, we swim or sink together. Anything else that is not signed by my committee, I am not aware,”
