KEBS DENIES CLAIMS OF CONTAMINATED SUGAR CLEARANCE AMID OPPOSITION ALLEGATIONS

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has strongly denied allegations by opposition leaders claiming that a consignment of contaminated sugar was cleared for repackaging and distribution in the country.
In a statement issued on Thursday July 31, 2025, KEBS clarified that no unsafe sugar shipment has been released into the market. The agency affirmed its commitment to upholding food safety standards and dismissed the claims as misleading.
“We wish to assure Kenyans that no contaminated sugar has been cleared for consumption. All food products entering the country must meet our safety and quality standards,” KEBS said via its official social media account.
The response follows allegations made by opposition leaders including Martha Karua, Kalonzo Musyoka, and Eugene Wamalwa, who on Wednesday claimed that a 25,000 metric tonnes shipment of unfit sugar had been allowed into the country and was being repackaged for sale, especially in the Western region.
The opposition termed the move a potential public health disaster, calling on the government to intercept and destroy the consignment before it reaches consumers.
This controversy comes months after a similar case in February 2024, when over 1,100 tonnes of sugar worth Ksh 214 million were seized after being found water-damaged during transit. In that case, KEBS confirmed the consignment had been intercepted and never made it to the market.
The bureau has now urged political leaders to avoid spreading misinformation and instead collaborate in safeguarding public health.