Several high-ranking government officials have been suspended as a result of a scandal concerning the improper release of a consignment of condemned sugar.
On Wednesday, May 17, President William Ruto was briefed on the scandal.
CS for National Treasury and Economic Planning Prof Njuguna Ndung’u and CS Moses Kuria of Investments, Trade, and Industry have taken swift administrative action in response to the illicit diversion of a consignment of hazardous sugar.
The condemned sugar was imported into the country in 2018 in the form of 20,000 bags measuring 50 kilograms apiece.
Cabinet Secretary for Trade and Investments Moses Kuria
Due to the lack of an expiry date specification, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) considered the shipment unfit for human consumption.
As a result, KEBS ordered that the shipment be destroyed.
Instead of being properly disposed of, the consignment was irregularly diverted and released without following required processes.
Prof Njuguna Ndung’u, Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning, acknowledged that a probe targeting corporations that have been dodging taxes or receiving tax breaks is ongoing.
Here’s a list of 27 government officials suspended pending further investigations:
Kenya Bureau of Standards
- Lt. Col (Rtd) Bernard Njiraini, the Managing Director
- Dr. Geoffrey Muriira, Director Quality Assurance and Inspection
- Hilda Keror, Manager Inspection, Mombasa Port Office
- Liston Lagat, Assistant Manager, ICDN Nairobi
- Rono Birgen Chief Manager, ICDN Nairobi
- Stephen Owuor, Principal Officer
- Peter Olima Joseph – Inspector, Mombasa
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)
- Bernard Ngumbi
- Raphael Mwaka
Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA)
- Oscar Kai
- Patrick Magut
Other suspended officials
- Joseph Maita Mweni (Port Health),
- Isacko Bonai (NEMA),
- Stephen Cheruiyot (Anti-Counterfeit Agency),
- Daniel Ngugi (KEPHIS),
- Willy Koskei (EACC),
- K. Edwin Ruto (KPA),
