This archive report was first published on 12 November 2019.
On September 4, 2019, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) cleared maize flour produced by Alpha Grain Millers for human consumption. The maize flour, which comprised Kifaru sifted maize meal, Kifaru Ngano wheat flour, and Msafiri maize meal, was later recalled from the market due to high levels of aflatoxin.
According to Alpha Grain Millers, Kebs notified the company of plans to randomly pick samples of Kifaru maize meal batch no PD/18/9/2019 (21.19) for testing on November 7, 2019. The company proceeded to withdraw the batch in question for purposes of internal and external testing, upon which the test results showed aflatoxin levels lower than the allowed maximum limit of 10 parts per billion (ppb).
The Cereal Millers Association (CMA) protested the ban, stating that it did not understand the laboratory parameters Kebs used to test the affected flour brands. CMA chair Mohamed Islam said, 'Test results for aflatoxin differ from laboratory to laboratory. Therefore, we would like to take time to understand Kebs' methodology of testing for aflatoxin and compare it with our own independent tests, which we do from time to time.'
Kitui Maize Millers also rejected the test results, stating that the findings contradicted reports from several independent tests that showed an acceptable aflatoxin level of 1.5ppb in their product.
Kebs Managing Director Bernard Njiraini was hard-pressed to explain how the organization cleared maize and the milled flour for consumption only to turn around and disown the products. He refused to comment on who cleared the maize from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) stores as fit for human consumption.
The affected millers are Alpha Grain Ltd (Kifaru), Kitui Flour Mills (Dola), Pan African Grain (Starehe), Kenblest Ltd (210), and Kensalrise Ltd (Jembe). The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock had announced that NCPB was offering two million bags for sale to the public at a subsidised price.
