Sugar scandal: MPs claim KRA lost Ksh.10B, want CS Rotich sacked

A section of Luhya politicians, led by Lugari MP Ayub Savula are now demanding for the sacking of Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich following the ongoing sugar importation row.

Speaking during a press briefing in Parliament, the MPs, representing constituencies from the sugar belt and maize growing areas, accused CS Rotich of allowing companies to import sugar duty free something they alleged almost brought the sugar industry to its knees.

Last week the Interim Head of the Sugar Directorate Solomon Odera told the parliamentary committee probing the sugar saga saying that a gazette notice issued by Treasury allowed any company to import sugar, a notice that the directorate was not involved.

Savula now says that a petition which has already been signed by 82 MPs has been presented to President Uhuru Kenyatta urging him to take action.

The MPs further claim that the revenue body, KRA, also lost Ksh.10 billion in taxes following the illegal importation by 14 companies who evaded taxes.

The 14 companies include;Flora Bakers Limited, Piccadily Holding Limited, Landmark Freight Services, Darasa Investment Limited, Pillarmatt Limited, The Option Two Limited, Ifox Commodity Limited, Paleah Stores Limited, Mapping Trading Company, Sukari Investment Limited, Elon Commodities (K) Limited, Coast Terminal East Africa Limited, Zack Petroleum Limited, Export Trading Company Limited.

A joint parliamentary committee led by MPs Kanini Kega and Adan Ali have so far questioned Cabinet Secretaries Mwangi Kiunjuri, Adan Mohamed, Henry Rotich and Fred Matiang’i as well as various sugar importers over the scandal.

The 25 legislators however raised doubt that the joint parliamentary committee investigating the matter could fail to unmask the culprits.

On Tuesday, June 3, Health Permanent Secretary Peter Tum told the parliamentary team that 60 percent of the imported sugar tested has been found unfit for human consumption.