A major food safety and tax evasion scandal has rocked the country following revelations that industrial sugar worth Sh3 billion was illegally diverted into the domestic market. According to an investigation, the consignment—originally meant strictly for industrial use—was repackaged and sold to unsuspecting consumers for household consumption.
Documents cited in the probe indicate that the sugar was imported as raw material for factories but was later redirected and distributed through retail channels by Mombasa Sugar Refinery and Kibos Sugar Company. The move has raised alarm over potential health risks, as industrial sugar does not meet the safety standards required for direct human consumption.
Further findings suggest the existence of a well-connected cartel orchestrating the scheme. Insiders allege that individuals behind the operation enjoy protection from senior government officials, enabling the product to circulate freely despite regulatory frameworks. This has not only endangered public health but also resulted in significant loss of tax revenue to the government.
The controversy has intensified calls for accountability, with pressure mounting on regulatory agencies to explain how such a large-scale breach went undetected. Kenyans are now demanding swift investigations and decisive action against those implicated in what is shaping up to be one of the country’s most troubling food scandals in recent years.