Nairobi, KENYA: Irrigation and Agriculture cabinet secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri has distanced himself from alleged one million bags rice saga which is alleged to be unfit for human consumption which was nabbed recently.
Speaking when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Agriculture chaired by Embu senator Njeru Ndwiga, Kiunjuri said that Kenya Bureau of standards and ministry of trade are responsible over the importation of the commodity and its quality as well; thus they are obliged to tell Kenyans what transpired.
“On the question of rice, it is domiciled in the ministry of trade. Is not an issue of production, it is the issue of trade now where they are supposed to regulate the safety and quality of rice imported. Therefore it is them to tell Kenyans what is happening .”Kiunjuri said
He indicated that he will be reviewing the trade agreements within East Africa, South Africa and globally to ascertain criteria of importing rice that has been allegedly unfit.
Kiunjuri said that he is ready to be answerable on issues touching on the amount of rice produced in the country.
He pointed out that Kenya produces 218, 000 metric tonnes and the demand of the commodity stands at 435,000 metric tonnes.
The chair indicated that his committee is concerned on the fate of sugar saga after the report of sugar in the National Assembly hit a snag, insisting that his committee has been under pressure to tackle the sugar mystery.
He, however, urged relevant authorities to tackle the issue insisting that it is a national concern which ought to be ironed out in time.
Recently one million bags of rice were nabbed thus declared unsafe for human consumption.
