Officers drawn from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Thursday began a crackdown on powdered milk importers.
While speaking after inspecting a consignment of illegally imported milk powder at the Inland Container Depot in Nairobi, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi stated that he was mandated to eradicate cartels in the dairy industry.
"We have a consignment of over Ksh150 million worth of products that have come into the country illegally as these items have not been levied," Linturi noted.
“What the DCI and KRA have done is commendable and now we need to further enhance enforcement measures and ensure we do not allow any of the products coming into the country."
Linturi who lauded KRA and DCI officers for their relentless effort in dealing with the illegal importation of milk powder disclosed that the government was likely to lose more than Ksh52 million in tax due to the smuggling of goods at the port.
"KRA or the government of Kenya is losing over Ksh50 million in levies which we are trying to collect and utilise as a country. Am saying this because it's a simple demonstration of the effect of the kind of threat the country is faced with when these unscrupulous criminal-minded traders pose to this country," Linturi remarked.
So far six suspects have been arrested by detectives in the ongoing crackdown.
The crackdown comes just a day after Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua directed security agencies including to tighten the noose on importers smuggling milk powder into the country.
"We have put adequate measures, our people from Kenya Dairy Board in conjunction with the DCI and customs officers have put adequate arrangements in every border entry and I assure farmers, that no powdered milk will come from outside and get into the country," the DP noted.
Gachagua while addressing stakeholders during the commissioning of the Kenya Co-operative Creameries (KCC) milk plant in Nyahururu, Laikipia, argued that the existence of powdered milk smugglers distorted milk prices in the markets.
“Currently, those who used to frustrate milk farmers were importing powdered milk. They put water in, stir, then add a little milk and sell the way they want," the DP noted.
“This time round, our government has said there is no more powdered milk getting into the country, let the milk be bought from farmers.”
