Kenya Insights

Tag: Contaminated sugar

  • Revealed: Aldai MP Marianne Kitany Poisoned 30 Schools With Contaminated Sugar Donation

    Revealed: Aldai MP Marianne Kitany Poisoned 30 Schools With Contaminated Sugar Donation

    The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has confirmed that sugar donated by Aldai MP Maryanne Kitany to at least 30 schools within her constituency was contaminated and unfit for human consumption, raising serious health concerns for students who consumed the products.

    According to a KEBS report released on February 18, 2025, the sugar failed multiple safety tests, including standards for conductivity ash, invert sugar, moisture content, polarization, water insoluble matter, total viable count, and yeast and molds content.

    “The sugar is not fit for human consumption,” stated Vincent Cheruiyot, the KEBS regional manager for North Rift, in the official report.

    Schools affected

    The contaminated sugar was distributed to numerous learning institutions under the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), including; Ndurio Secondary School, Secondary School, Chepkongony Secondary School,  Secondary School, Kapkures Secondary School, Kaptumek Secondary School, Koyo Secondary School, Maraba High School, Kesegon High School, Koitabut High School, Banja High School and others.

    By the end of January, over 400 bags of the contaminated sugar had been distributed to these institutions, with many schools having already used the product before the KEBS findings were published.

    Discovery of contamination

    Aldai MP Maryanne Kitany
    Aldai MP Maryanne Kitany

    The issue came to light when the board of management at Ndurio Secondary School raised concerns about the sugar’s quality in January 2025, prompting them to request KEBS intervention.

    Acting swiftly, KEBS officials from the North Rift Region collected samples for laboratory testing, ultimately confirming the sugar did not meet the required standards set by the KS EAS:2021 Kenya Standard.

    When contacted about the matter, MP Kitany acknowledged that the sugar was purchased from a contracted local dealer and stored before distribution to the schools. She defended both herself and the supplier, suggesting they were victims of counterfeit products in the market.

    “We have also raised our concerns with KEBS to explain how the banned sugar made its way to the local market. It has been confirmed that the sugar was locked up at Mombasa ports, but rogue officers allowed substandard products into the market,” Kitany stated.

    This incident comes amid other quality control concerns linked to the legislator.

    In a separate but related matter, MP Kitany’s family has been connected to the recent fake fertilizer scandal that led to impeachment proceedings against Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi, her former husband.

    Investigations revealed that Mems Distributors Ltd, a company reportedly owned by Kitany’s brother, Collins Kipchumba Ngetich, partnered with Kel Chemicals to supply subsidized fertilizer during the 2023/2024 financial year.

    The government subsequently shut down Kel Chemicals’ operations after discovering the distribution of substandard fertilizer.

    When questioned about these connections, Kitany denied any involvement with Mems Distributors, stating, “I have no interests and also not aware of any of its dealings with any government entities. That (conflict of interest in awarding Mems Distributors a contract) is between CS Linturi and the directors of Mems.”

    Health officials have not yet reported any illnesses directly linked to the contaminated sugar consumption at the affected schools, but experts caution that consuming products with high yeast, mold, and other contaminants could pose significant health risks, particularly with prolonged exposure.

    The incident has raised questions about oversight and quality control processes for donations made through the NG-CDF program.

    KEBS and public health officials continue to monitor the situation.

  • Businesswoman Behind Contaminated Imported Sugar Seized In Mombasa

    Businesswoman Behind Contaminated Imported Sugar Seized In Mombasa

    The seized sugar at a private container freight station, Mitchel Cotts, was imported from Port Louis, Mauritius by Rehema Badi, a marketing strategist at Mitchell Cotts which is under Elavon Logistics Limited.

    Word has it that Rehema is a notorious businesswoman used by local and international sugar cartels to dump contaminated sugar in the country. She operates offshore bank accounts where her cut is banked.

    It’s alleged that that powerful sugar barons use Rehema to import the contaminated sugar, powder milk, rice and other imports.
    Daniel Tanui is the group managing director at Mitchell Cotts Group.

    According to Kenya Ports Authority and Kenya Revenue Authority documents, Elavon Logistics Limited situated on Nyali Links Road imported the sugar late last year on bill of landing number MEDUPL346582.

    Police seized more than 1,112 metric tonnes of contaminated sugar in Mombasa worth Sh214 million that was about to be released into the market and to the public.

    The insurer of the shipper compensated the importer and the said sugar was to be destroyed upon the ship docking at the port of Mombasa.
    The same was shipped by the Mediterranean Shipping Line and alleged to have drenched in water in the high seas.

    However, the importer allegedly corrupted and bribed KPA and other agency officials who were to ensure the sugar was destroyed. It is said Rehema held meetings with KPA and KRA officials at Nyali Mall where the deal was struck and money running into millions of shillings was agreed upon to facilitate the deal.

    Rehema was allowed to offload the contaminated sugar taking it to Mitchel Cotts CFC where she untouchable.

    Upon seizure, the importer had made the declaration on February 9 2024 where Sh30 million was paid to customs and Sh6 million was paid to Kenya Bureau of Standards to process the release of the entire consignment into the market.

    A letter from The Food, Drugs, and Chemical Substance Act (Cap. 254) Seizure Form B dated February 2 2024 indicated that the entire consignment had been seized, thus saving Kenyans from consuming the contaminated sugar.

    Many questions are however being asked over who allowed the importer to offload sugar that was to be destroyed and who allowed a bad consignment to be released in a private cargo facility charge where the importer is an employee?

    Officials at owned Mitchell Cotts CFS in Mombasa were caught with their pants down, and are now engaged in damage control. They now claim that the alleged 780.2 metric tonnes of contaminated sugar stored at the station was not released into the local market.

    Mitchell Cotts CFS director in charge of operations James Rariaya said samples have been taken for laboratory and quality assurance testing by Kebs and that no sugar has been released for consumption. Sources say that Rariaya was part of the deal that also involve powerful political wheelerdealers in Nairobi and Mombasa.

    It was shipped into the country, inside 46 20-foot containers, aboard the container carrier MSC Eagle F.

    The ship partially sank for over 24 hours outside the Kilindini channel. Several containers were thus affected by water seepage.

    However, last week, it emerged that there was an attempt to release the cargo into the market, despite a seizure order from the government agencies. Rehema was making calls, threatening those blocking the cargo release.

    Caught in the mix is Rehema buddy at KRA Swaleh Teher, chief manager of port operations. Word has it that Teher does not get on well with George Aduwi, manager at the ICDN and Jane Ombui of revenue monitoring unit.

    During the clearing process, Rehema and Teher dropped the name of KRA board chairman Anthony Mwaura.