Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi on Wednesday, June 21, contradicted his Trade counterpart Moses Kuria over the importation of sugar.
Appearing before the Senate, Linturi emphasised that he had not issued permits to the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) to import 200,000 metric tonnes of sugar in April.
The CS instead explained that his ministry had only approved the importation of 180,000 metric tonnes at the time. He insisted that a total of 280,000 metric tonnes had been procured in December last year of which 100,000 metric tonnes already arrived - leaving a balance of 180,000 metric tonnes.
"I am the one who gives permits to any importer to bring sugar and I have not given any permit to KNTC to bring 200,00 metric tonnes of sugar.
"I maintain that the sugar I approved was 280,000 metric tonnes. I gazetted 100,000 tonnes on December 22, 2022, and the rest was gazetted on May 2. There is no other sugar coming to Kenya outside COMESA as duty-free other than what I have mentioned," Linturi stated.
Linturi's response contradicted that of Kuria who hours earlier had told the committee that KNTC was preparing to import an additional 200,000 metric tonnes of duty-free sugar - rising the total imports to 300,000 metric tonnes.
While making his appearance, Kuria explained KNTC's role in the importation of goods including sugar, fertiliser, beans, and oil.
He noted that the corporation was dealing with the importation of fertilisers, rice, beans as well as cooking oil and was gearing up to receive another 200,000 metric tonnes of sugar.
The Trade CS added that KNTC relied on internally generated revenue to finance its operations.
"As a corporation that relies on internally generated funds from selling goods at a mini between maintaining low prices for our customers while generating enough income to cover our administrative costs," he added.
KNTC was allowed to import 200,000 tonnes of sugar, 150,000 tonnes of rice and 80, 000 tonnes of beans as duty-free which was expected to ease the cost of commodities in the country.
In March, Kuria selected 500,000 shops to sell the imported duty-free sugar alongside four other commodities.
Linturi Clarity
The Agriculture CS clarified that sugar importation licenses are done online in a process that does not need human interaction.
The CS further noted that Kenyans can expect cheap sugar in the second week of July 2023.
"We are expecting 180,000 metric tonnes of sugar and Kenyans will notice the cheap prices," he stated.
Linturi was responding to Marsabit Senator Mohamed Chute who called upon the two ministries to work together in streamlining the importation of goods as well as conduct investigations on alleged corruption in the two ministries.
"You need to sit (with Kuria) and discuss which way to go. Are you going to use KNTC which is going to be expensive for this country?" Chute questioned.
According to Linturi, the country had a limited supply of sugar which affected the price. He added that the dollar shortage also contributed to the hike with some Kenyans coughing up to Ksh400 for a two-kilogram packet.
He explained that he had partnered with other stakeholders to come up with a program to review the sugar sector.
