William Ruto has suspended 27 government officers including KRA, KEBS, DCI and Anti Counterfeit Agency over irregular release of ‘poisonous’ sugar.
The press release by Head of the Public Service Felix Koskei states that the sugar consignment comprising of 20,000 bags (each 50kgs) had been imported into the country in the year 2018 and condemned by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and NEMA unfit for human consumption
In response to the serious allegations, Ruto has authorised the suspension of several government officers pending thorough investigations
The said sugar had been earmarked for conversion into industrial ethanol.
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They are;
Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS)
- Managing Director Col (Rtd) Bernard Njiraini,
Director Quality Assurance and Inspection Geoffrey Muriira, - Manager Inspection, Mombasa Port Office Hilda Keror,
- Assistant Manager, ICDN NairobiListon Lagat,
Chief Manager, ICDN Nairobi Rono Birgen - Principal Officer Stephen Owuor,
- Inspector, Mombasa Peter Olima Joseph -.
Kenya Revenue Authority
- Joseph Kaguru
- Mwanja Masinde
- Stephen Muiruri
- Moses Okoth
- Doris Mutembei
- Chacha Hondo
- Carol Nyagechi
- Derick Kago
National Police Service
- George Mithamo
- Joel Kirui
Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)
- Benard Ngumbi
- Raphael Mwaka
Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA)
- Oscar Kai
- Patrick Magut
Others are;
- Joseph Maita Mweni (Port Health)
- Isacko Bonai (NEMA), Stephen Cheruiyot (Anti-Counterfeit Agency)
- Daniel Ngugi (KEPHIS), Willy Koskei (EACC),
- Edwin Ruto (KPA).
“KEBS condemned the consignment as unfit for human consumption and directed that the consignment be reshipped and destroyed at the owner’s cost,” said Koskei.
Koskei further said that KEBS National Standards Council approved destruction through conversion of the consignment for industrial ethanol use.
“The industrial ethanol conversion was to be implemented under the joint supervision of KEBS and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), within a multi-agency framework. The condition precedent to the conversion were; involvement of all the concerned regulatory agencies; sourcing a distiller through an open and competitive tendering process; and securing the payment of applicable taxes and statutory fees,” said Koskei.
The Head of Public Service further noted that the consignment was released.
“It has since been established that the consignment was irregularly diverted and uprocedurally released. Further, the conditions relating to open and competitive enlisting of the distiller were breached and the applicable taxes were not paid.” Said Koskei.
Koskei called on all public officers to uphold their civic duty and the ethos of honesty, integrity and accountability.
