The recently seized consignment of contraband sugar contains mercury and copper, tests by government chemist have confirmed.
Speaking at the Directorate of Criminal Investigation headquarters in Nairobi on Wednesday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi said millions of Kenyans are suspected to have consumed the poisonous sugar disguised as local brands.
Matiangi vowed to crackdown on traders who have been selling the unfit product and those who have been smuggling it into the country from countries such as Brazil.
“I am shocked personally over what we’re doing to our country. Its mind boggling,” Matiangi said.
“We ain’t seen anything. It’s going to be rough. It is hurting the economy. It’s hurting our health. We have firm instructions from the President to proceed without fear, without favour.”
In a multi-agency operation last week, thousands of tonnes of the poisonous product were seized at a godown in Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate. The sugar is said to have been smuggled into the country by cartels who comprise powerful individuals in business and political sectors.
Also seized during the operation was a complete packaging set-up with weighing, sewing, sealing and printing machines used to label the smaller packages before they are distributed to the market.
The officers also found fake Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) stickers sourced from the agency through underhand methods.
Thanks CS Matiang’i for…
Thanks CS Matiang’i for moving quickly to stop distribution of the poisonous sugar. I just hope we had more Matiang’is in Kenya. This man should be the next President of Kenya. He always puts the welfare of Kenyans first.
It’s time for Kenyans to…
It’s time for Kenyans to stop consuming any processed sugar or products that contain processed sugar. We need to go back to the basics before we all get poisoned while consuming foreign products. Why can’t the government protect our local industries by banning imported products and especially those that we can produce locally and those that will affect our health. Failure to do so, will see our health deteriorate.
Why Import sugar and farmers…
Why Import sugar and farmers in western Kenya are suffering Low pay from the products..It’s high time we must rise.We will uproot the sugarcane from our farms and plant something else.The government is biased.Protect our farmers the way you protect the tea and coffee farmers.
#Kumira_Kumira
Is this an episode of…
Is this an episode of chemical terrorism….Or am I missing something…Mercury in Sugar! copper in Sugar!! Sad Sad!! Matiang’i for President 2022!!