KEBS Breaks Silence on Alleged Contaminated Sugar
In late July 2025, a political storm brewed across Kenya as opposition leaders, including Kalonzo Musyoka and Martha Karua, accused the government of allowing 25,000 metric tonnes of contaminated sugar into the market. They claimed the sugar had originally been declared unfit for consumption in its country of origin and was allegedly cleared by corrupt officials through the Port of Mombasa. Images and videos shared on social media suggested the sugar was being repackaged in Western Kenya for distribution.
"This sugar should be destroyed in public — not secretly rebranded and sold to Kenyans." — Kalonzo Musyoka, Opposition Leader
KEBS Official Response
In a strongly worded statement dated July 31, 2025, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) denied the claims:
-
No consignment flagged as unsafe had been released into circulation.
-
KEBS insisted it follows stringent lab testing, sampling, and certification protocols before market release.
-
They clarified that any flagged sugar is held under "restrictive custody" and cannot be sold or distributed until cleared or condemned.
"The information being circulated is misleading. All sugar must pass quality conformity procedures before entry into the market." — KEBS Spokesperson
Breaking Down the Data
| Element | Verified Figure / Status |
|---|---|
| Alleged Sugar Amount | 25,000 metric tonnes |
| KEBS Lab Test Status | Ongoing; none cleared for sale (as of July 31) |
| Ports of Entry Involved | Port of Mombasa |
| Suspected Repackaging Sites | Bungoma, Kakamega, Busia (unverified) |
| KEBS Testing Centers Engaged | 3 (Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu) |
| Independent Test Access | Not granted to opposition or media (yet) |
Public Health Implications
If the allegations prove true:
-
Millions of Kenyans could be exposed to substandard or toxic sugar.
-
Hospitals may see spikes in gastric, metabolic, or heavy metal-related illnesses.
-
The government could face lawsuits, economic sanctions, or WTO scrutiny.
But with KEBS standing firm, the situation now depends on:
-
Transparent lab reports
-
Independent verification
-
Inter-agency collaboration
As of August 1, no verified illnesses or hospital admissions have been publicly linked to this batch.
The Political Undercurrent
The sugar saga isn’t just a health story — it’s deeply political. Opposition figures accuse senior government officials of colluding with importers and KRA agents.
A leaked July 27 internal memo between the Ministry of Trade and KEBS (viewed by KBN) suggests there was debate over whether to "quietly dispose or publicly condemn" the shipment.
Sources inside the National Assembly’s Agriculture Committee confirmed that a closed-door sitting took place on July 29 to review the import logs and flagged consignments.
"There is enough smoke here — now we need to find the fire." — Committee Member (name withheld)
Calls for Action
Civil society organizations, including Transparency International-Kenya, KHRC, and Consumer Grassroots Alliance, have called for:
-
Public release of all KEBS lab test results
-
Parliamentary grilling of KEBS, KRA, and Ministry of Trade officials
-
Mandatory labeling of sugar origin
Destruction of any non-conforming products under public supervision
What's Your Reaction?
