3 people were on Tuesday charged after being accused of stealing condemned milk the government had seized in Mombasa.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which is prosecuting the case, noted that the trio were charged at the Milimani Law Courts.
The three allegedly stole 1,511 bags of the condemned powder milk. Their intentions were, however, unknown.
The prosecution told the court that the bags were stolen at the Sambot Ship’s Contractors in Mombasa County.
"They were also charged with an offence of interfering with goods subjected to customs control," the ODPP stated.
"The accused persons are alleged to have interfered with 1,511 bags each containing 25 kg of condemned powdered milk, which were subject to customs control by virtue of having seized for distraction."
At Milimani Law Courts, the trio pleaded not guilty to all charges before Chief Magistrate Dr. Victor Wakhumile.
They were subsequently released on a bond of Ksh.200, 000 and an alternative cash bail of Ksh.100, 000.
Senior Principal Prosecution Counsel Duncan Ondimu, OGW, informed the court that the prosecution had already supplied the accused persons with documentary evidence and witness statements.
The matter will be mentioned on July 15, 2024.
Over the past year, cases of condemned edible products reportedly sneaked back into the market in separate instances thereby endangering the lives of Kenyan citizens.
In May this year, the Departmental Committee of Trade, in its report tabled in Parliament, indicated that condemned sugar which disappeared in Thika last year ended up on Kenyans' tables.
The committee further established the liability on the part of various government agencies who failed to undertake their mandate in ensuring that the sugar was not released to the public.
Among the institutions implicated were the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), and the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA).
The contaminated sugar was seized in May 2023 and led to President William Ruto suspending senior government officials.
Among those who were suspended were the former KEBS Managing Director and the Director of Quality Assurance and Inspection.
