Matiang’i, Kiunjuri summoned over illegal sugar scandal

Three Cabinet Secretaries; Dr. Fred Matiang’i (Interior), Adan Mohamed (Trade), Mwangi Kiunjuri (Devolution) and Henry Rotich (Treasury) have been summoned by a parliamentary committee over the illegal sugar scandal.

National Assembly Agricultural Committee chair Adan Haji Yussuf on Wednesday revealed names of people, organisations and bodies that will be called in to shed light on matters concerning the contraband sugar that has been impounded across the country.

Other people who will be summoned include; Mr. Jaswinder Rai, the owner of Rai Industries, Diamond Wholesalers among others.

Most of the impounded sugar is unfit for human consumption while the other has been illegally imported into the country without paying duty.

Mr Haji said the Cabinet Secretaries have been summoned to shed light over how the sugar got into the country and ended up on shelves where unsuspecting Kenyans bought and consumed it.

Speaking at a press release in Parliament, Haji said that about 14,8000 metric tonnes of poisonous sugar which is said to contain mercury and copper was imported into the country by unnamed sugar barons.

He further added that the sugar was then distributed and stored in different emporiums, which include; Nakuru Blanket and Raiply, West Kenya Sugar, Timsales, Webuye Sukari distributors, Ndhiwa, JP Maina in Mombasa among others.

State agencies that will be required to offer their input include; EACC, KEBS, KRA.

Haji said that the perpetrators have also imported the sugar using five companies and deemed the process a well orchestrated move by “one person to kill the genuine milling companies such as Nzoia, Mumias and Muhoroni.”

Among the government officials that will come in for questioning are CS trade Adan Mohamed, CS Mwangi Kiunjuri to shed light on licensing, CS treasury Henry Rotich to shed light on matters notices and exemptions,and CS interior Dr.Fred Matiang’i as he controls the instruments of power in terms of entry points of the imports.

Responding to a question from the media, Haji called on CS Matiang’i to ensure that he prosecutes the so-called “big fish” who control the illegal trade.

“He has paraded small fish in the past one week, he has gone to Eastleigh, Kitui, Nyandarua when we are telling him 4 million bags are stashed somewhere in some stores across the country,” said Haji.

“Nobody is talking about this West Kenya Sugar, we want to know who is protecting this man and we are not going to buy a story that Matiang’i is going to do some show with CID going and parading some small timers, where are the big fish?”