A family in Nairobi's Buruburu estate is living in fear after detectives whisked away their sickly parents for running a shop suspected to be dealing in contraband sugar.
Mr Stanley Karanja 67, together with her wife Jane Karanja 59, were nabbed on Friday afternoon alongside their 36-year-old daughter who is a partner in the business. Their 15 employees were also arrested at the shop.
The couple, which has been running a wholesale shop at Intercity House since 1998 is being held at Shauri Moyo police station.
In the shop under scrutiny, the family stocks sugar, cooking oil, stationery and other household items.
[caption caption="The held couple "]
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Their eldest daughter, Barnerdict, 42, who fears for her mother who has a chronic ailment, on Sunday confirmed to Kenyans.co.ke that her parents were arrested and taken to Shauri Moyo Police Station alongside the employees.
The 15 employees were later, together with Barnerdict’s younger sister, released after recording statements with the police on their involvement in the business.
She further narrated that police at the station had denied them audience and have not let their mother gain access to medical attention since Friday despite her wane health.
“We really fear that we could lose our mother if she spends another night at the station. She has been sick for a long time. When we tried to tell the police that she needs medical attention they said they can not do anything about it because the matter is being handled by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations,” she decried.
Pangani DCI officers reportedly visited the station on Saturday in a bid to have the two suspects relocated.
Attempts to get a comment from the Buruburu OCPD Geoffrey Mayek were unsuccessful as he could not be reached on phone.
“They are being held by the police because of selling Kabras sugar yet they have documents showing whom they bought it from. They have been doing this business for many years,” explained Barnerdict.
She told Kenyans.co.ke that West Kenya Sugar Company suppliers based in Eastleigh Estate usually deliver the sweetener to their parents’ shop.
Detectives recently impounded at least 1,344 bags of contraband sugar marked as unsafe for human consumption. Part of the sugar was found in Eastleigh. One of the Kabras sugar dealers is also in police custody over the same.
She added that lawyers have also distanced themselves from helping the family who are expected in court on Monday.
[caption caption="A pack of re-branded sugar "]
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