CONTAMINATED SUGAR AT LARGE - KALONZO

Opposition leaders have come out accusing the government of clearing a massive consignment of imported sugar that had reportedly been condemned at its port of origin for being unfit for human consumption.

Addressing a press conference in Nairobi on Thursday, senior opposition figures led by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and PLP's Martha Karua alleged that 25,000 metric tonnes of the questionable sugar recently docked at the Port of Mombasa and is already en route to a Western Kenya sugar factory, where it is expected to be repackaged and sold to unsuspecting consumers.

“This cargo has already been declared unfit for human consumption by the exporting country. Yet, shockingly, the Ruto administration moved swiftly to clear it for entry. What kind of leadership sacrifices the health of its people in the name of profit?” Kalonzo posed.

The leaders demanded that the entire consignment be intercepted, condemned publicly, and destroyed immediately, warning of catastrophic health implications if it enters the local market.

This controversy reignites concerns from last year, when Parliament’s Trade Committee exposed another instance where contaminated sugar—originally intended for conversion to industrial ethanol—was diverted and sold to the public. That 2024 incident saw key government agencies including KEBS, NEMA, and the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) accused of either negligence or complicity.

“What we’re witnessing now is not just another lapse—it’s a deliberate act of endangering lives,” Karua said, calling for accountability at all regulatory checkpoints.

As of Thursday afternoon, there had been no official response from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) or the Ministry of Trade regarding the allegations. Attempts to reach officials at the Port of Mombasa also went unanswered.

Meanwhile, consumer rights organizations have echoed the opposition's concern, warning that failure to act decisively could expose millions of Kenyans to serious health risks including liver and kidney damage, cancer, and other long-term complications.

The opposition also cast a spotlight on the growing use of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs)—a financial structure they claim is being exploited to bypass parliamentary oversight and funnel billions into questionable procurement schemes.

According to Kalonzo, “SPVs have become the new face of corruption, shielding toxic decisions from scrutiny while opening the floodgates to illegal imports like this condemned sugar.”

Following these allegations, the opposition coalition outlined four urgent demands:

1. Immediate recall and destruction of the entire sugar consignment.
2. Public disclosure of all documentation related to its clearance.
3. Independent testing by a neutral food safety body.
4. Suspension of government officials involved in the clearance pending investigation.

This incident adds to growing frustration over what many see as the weakening of public institutions meant to safeguard food safety and consumer protection. With rising fears that more such consignments may have quietly made their way into the country, the spotlight now turns to regulatory bodies—and whether they will rise to the occasion or retreat behind bureaucracy.