Detectives impounded one million bags of toxic rice in Mombasa County.
A team of detectives working on a report compiled by Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) and Government agencies, including the National Intelligence Service (NIS), seized the goods last month.
The investigators also confiscated more than 400 containers of cooking oil which, they noted, did not meet required standards.
Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) stated that the rice, originally from Pakistan, had been condemned as unfit for human consumption but somehow found its way into Kenya.
The consignment was past the expiry date by three years and in addition, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) refused to clear more than 400 containers of 20kg jerricans of cooking oil from Malaysia.
According to the Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti, rogue importers were printing new bags that were transported to the high seas and used to repackage the contaminated rice.
"Yes, it’s true we have impounded about one million bags of rice stored in some warehouses in Mombasa. We believe some of the toxic rice may have been sneaked into the market,” Kinoti remarked
The DCI pointed a finger on a cartel, which they claimed was working with customs officials, in facilitating entry of the contraband rice.
“They print new bags with fresh expiry dates then repackage the rice ready for entry through the port. Some of the rice had been condemned about three years ago as unfit for human consumption,” DCI Kinoti stated.
The Palm Oil Refiners Association of Malaysia (Poram) petitioned its government to intervene and have the oil shipped back to Malaysia.
A letter dated July 10, 2018, by Poram Chief Executive Officer Teoh Beng Chuan explained that the oil was impounded because it did not have 20mg/kg of vitamin A as required.
This came as reports indicated KAM and NIS had collected intelligence that could lead to major changes at Kebs, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).
President Uhuru Kenyatta received the report which had implicated the agencies in corruption, according to those in the know.
