The Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) has kick-started a nationwide crackdown targeting all businesses involved in the illegal sale and supply of sugar in the country.
In a press briefing on Wednesday, August 27, the board's Product Quality Officer, Joseph Wafula, said that the operation will target all small-scale and large-scale sugar retailers and distributors, including shops and supermarkets, who contravene sugar regulations.
According to Wafula, several businesspeople in Nairobi have already been nabbed with large loads of sugar, which were to be sold illegally.
Wafula noted that the board will take immediate legal action on such dealers once the investigations have been completed.
"This crackdown is part of the mandate of the Kenya Sugar Board as per the Sugar Act number 11 of 2024. During the operation, some of the goods were seized, and we have already started investigations, and further analysis will also be done," Wafula said.
In Kenya, several sugar regulations guide the sale of sugar in supermarkets and shops, primarily focusing on quality, traceability, and consumer protection.
Sugar distributors are required by the government to register for monitoring and traceability. These businesses are also required to disclose the origin of their sugar to prevent the sale of illegally imported sugar.
These regulations aim to curb smuggling in the sugar sector and ensure that consumers purchase safe and quality sugar to consumers.
Counterfeit Sugar
The announcement comes a week after the Anti-Counterfeit Authority seized hundreds of bags of counterfeit sugar, and jerricans of which were being smuggled from Somalia into Kenya.
The authority, in collaboration with other security agencies, intercepted three lorries at Sabaki Security Patrol Point, Malindi, where it managed to recover the goods and arrest eight individuals.
In a statement on Thursday, August 21, the authority warned that if the sugar had made its way to the country's market, it would have in turn undermined the country's revenue base and also expanded illicit trade networks, but could also potentially fuel terrorist activities.
"The operation led to the seizure of 676 bags of counterfeit sugar branded Butali and other labels, jerricans of cooking oil, and three trucks used in transportation. Eight suspects were arrested and booked at Malindi Police Station. The goods are valued at approximately Ksh10 million," the authority stated.
