Nairobi, KENYA: Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri has downplayed allegations linking the company which is owned by Muhoho Kenyatta that it imported sugar.
In a media briefing in Nairobi, Kiunjuri blames the Agriculture Food Authority for handing him a report which he claims was inaccurate with a list which entailed the name of Protech investment owned by Muhoho Kenyatta indicating that the company is not among the companies which imported sugar.
Kiunjuri said that the company was on the list despite the fact that the owner has never imported sugar into the country indicating that he just applied as an importer several years ago.
He demanded that AFA must fast track and clarify the matter promptly to avert further misrepresentation of facts.
Kiinjuri also blasted Aldai Member of Parliament Cornelly Serem for sensationally misrepresenting facts on sugar across the country indicating that it amounts to malice and misrepresentation of facts.
“It is important to note that not all companies that are on the list that I tabled utilized the gazette window to import duty-free sugar last year,” Kiunjuri said.
“In fact the sensational claims by that the company he chose to single out of the list 370, registered for Brown sugar and Mill /White sugar under investigation is not only false, misleading, malicious but also mischievous,” Kiunjuri added.
He pointed out that 48 companies are registered as importers of white refined sugar for industrial use including Kenya Breweries, Nairobi Bottlers Ltd , GlaxoSmith Ltd and Wrigley (EA )Ltd.
According to Kiunjuri, other companies which were registered to import brown sugar for manufacturing processes of Confectionery and cattle feed include Jambo Biscuits, Premier cookies, Keblest and Kifaru feeds ltd.
Serem had tabled material before the joint committee on Trade and Agriculture on Monday, showing how the imported sugar was mishandled in terms of storage, packaging and transportation.
Mr. Serem claimed that the product was transported in open trucks and dumped on the ground, just like sand, at a godown in Webuye, Bungoma County.
