Sugar millers in Kenya sinking under billions of debt

Interior Cabinet Secretary  Fred Matiang’i has vowed to fight the war  against illicit goods in the country to the end.

The CS, who was speaking at a press conference on Wednesday after inspecting counterfeit and unfit-for-human-consumption goods nabbed by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in various parts of the country, said results of tests carried out on the confiscated goods have been “shocking”.

“I am personally shocked over what we are doing to our Country. It’s mind boggling, he said.

MERCURY LADEN CONTRABAND SUGAR

A total of 1,365 bags of contraband Sugar were confiscated in a Warehouse in Ruiru and another more than 3,000 bags were seized in Eastleigh, Nairobi.

The contraband sugar is said to contain high levels of mercury and moisture, making it unfit for human consumption.

“It is unfortunate some characters are making abnormal profits from selling poisonous and injurious products to Kenyans,” Matiang’i said.

The CS revealed that the sugar, which is believed to have been imported from brazil, has been cousumed by unsuspecting consumers since it was being moved to local companies including Mumias and Kabras for re-packaging before it was sold.

Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti said his officers were working to bring the people behind the illegal trade to book.

“Apart from the dealers, we are investigating how illegal products manage to pass through the points of entries undetected. We believe that the unscrupulous businessmen conspired with officials who should be protecting Kenyans,” Mr Kinoti said.