State agencies on spot over poisonous sugar
Trucks with contraband sugar at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters in Kiambu on June 5, 2018 after police impounded them. MPs have accused key government institutions of sleeping on the job. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
A committee of the National Assembly has accused key government institutions of sleeping on the job and allowing the entry into the country of poisonous sugar.
The Committee on Implementation has specifically faulted the ministries of Health, Treasury and Agriculture, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) and Agriculture and Food and Fisheries Authorities (AFFA) of doing little to curb the importation of contraband sugar.
The concerns of the committee chaired by Narok North MP Moitalel ole Kenta come as the country grapples with fears that the sugar in the market is laced with mercury, copper among other heavy metals that are harmful to human health.
IMPLEMENT REPORT
Of interest to the committee charged with ensuring that all the resolutions of the House including petitions, laws, motions, and reports are implemented, is the fact that the government institutions failed to implement a report of the Agriculture and Livestock committee of the 11th Parliament — 'The crisis facing the sugar industry in Kenya'.
“Had this report been implemented fully by the responsible agencies, we would not be having the problems we are having on the suitability of sugar in the market now. They failed Kenyans big time,” Mr Kenta said.
The report, which was adopted in 2016, had recommended the establishment of a permanent inter-agency enforcement unit on sugar trade to enhance capacity to verify, scrutinise and monitor cross-border trade.
BORDER PATROLS
The unit was also required to step up border patrols to eradicate sugar smuggling. It was to draw membership from Kenya Ports Authority, Health ministry, AFFA, Kebs, police and KRA, but this did not happen, exposing Kenyans to the current health risks. KRA was required to investigate and take action against its officers who cleared the entry of sugar without authority from the regulator.
“Any company that imported sugar without authority from the regulator should be banned from import and export business,” the report says. The committee recommended the cancellation of import licences of Kenafric Industries, Czarnikov East Africa ltd, Stuntwave lMshale Commodities and Rising Star Commodities Ltd. Interestingly, some of these companies were allowed to import duty-free sugar last year.
