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{
    "id": 822186,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/822186/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 98,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kieni, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Kanini Kega",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1813,
        "legal_name": "James Mathenge Kanini Kega",
        "slug": "james-mathenge-kanini-kega"
    },
    "content": "Six, the relevant investigative agencies should investigate the then Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries to establish the circumstances under which the CS recommended waiver of duty for the 14 companies which imported sugar under Gazette Notice No.9802. Seven, the DCI and EACC should conduct further in-depth investigations on all irregularities relating to the importation of sugar into the country. Eight, the Government should ban importation of un-bagged bulk sugar and institute measures to guarantee the safety of sugar and other food commodities imported into the country. Nine, the Government should ban importation of raw sugar meant for further processing as table sugar to avoid diversion of this sugar into the local market and safeguard the local sugarcane farmers. Ten, the KEBS should undertake a thorough review of its existing standards for sugar importation to provide that all sugar imported into the country is tested for presence of heavy metals prior to issuance of Pre-verification of Export Certificate and Certificates of Conformity (CoCs) from the country of origin. When we interacted with the SGS, they said that mercury is ordinarily not found in sugar. It is not tested when they are doing the CoCs. We have said it has to be tested henceforth. Eleven, the relevant investigative agencies should investigate the then Cabinet Secretary of Trade, Industry and Co-operatives under whose docket the KEBS falls. This is to establish the circumstances under which KEBS failed to undertake adequate market surveillance to guarantee the safety and quality of sugar in the country. Twelve, the Government, through the multi-agency team, should speed up investigations into the unfit and contraband sugar and publish its findings within 21 days of adoption of this Report of the Joint Committee comprising the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Co-operatives and the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock. Thirteen, the relevant agencies should ensure that all raw sugar imported into the country during the duty free window is reprocessed in compliance with the set KEBS’ standards. Fourteen, the multi-agency task force should ensure that seized sugar, which complied with the relevant tests and the set standards is released back to the owners immediately. When the multi-agency team started the crackdown, a 50-kilogramme bag of sugar was costing Kshs3,500. At the moment, that bag goes for Kshs8,000. We are telling them to release the sugar that is fit for human consumption, so that we can stabilise the prices. Fifteen, the samples collected from sugar that was seized at the Diamond Wholesalers Godown in Eastleigh and Paleah Stores in Ruiru were tested for the following heavy metals: mercury, arsenic, lead and copper. The KEBS detected a heavy presence of copper at 20.7 parts The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}