Members of Parliament have directed the Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui to put in place a team to verify the quantities of raw sugar imported at the Port of Mombasa within seven days.
The National Assembly Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives has also directed the samples of the raw sugar held at the Port of Mombasa, Nairobi Freight Terminus (NFT) Autoport, and Mombasa Sugar Refinery Limited (MSRL) factory be collected for testing by an independent laboratory to ascertain the type of sugar that was imported.
The directives are contained in an interim report on the inquiry into the importation of 27,000 metric tonnes (MT) of raw sugar by Mombasa Sugar Refinery Limited (MSRL).
The committee, chaired by Ikolomani MP Bernard Shinali, resolved to table an interim report on the inquiry into raw sugar importation to ensure that the raw sugar is not diverted for human consumption while the inquiry is ongoing, all taxes due on the raw sugar consignment are secured, provisions of laws are adhered to, and importation and handling of raw sugar in Kenya is provided for in the legislative framework.
The committee opened the inquiry into importation of raw sugar by Mombasa Sugar Refinery Limited after a media expose where it was alleged that Mombasa Sugar Refinery Limited had imported 27,000 metric tonnes of harmful sugar from South Africa which has been repackaged and distributed for sale in the country.
“The committee recommends that the State Department for Industry establishes whether Mombasa Sugar Refinery Limited (MSRL) has the capacity to refine the 27,000 MT of the raw sugar and report to the committee within seven days of adoption of this report by the National Assembly,” Mr Shinali said.
“In carrying out the inquiry, the committee has reviewed documents, held meetings with relevant government agencies and Mombasa Sugar Refinery Limited, and conducted inspections visits to the Port of Mombasa, Nairobi Freight Terminus (NFT) Autoport and Mombasa Sugar Refinery Limited,” Mr Shinali said.
Regular surveillance checks
“For the meetings and inspection visits, the committee established that the raw sugar was imported by Wilmar Sugar Pte Limited on behalf of Mombasa Sugar Refinery Limited, raw sugar is not listed as one of the sugar imports in Form 3 and Form 4 in the Schedule to the Sugar (Imports and Exports) Regulations, No 168 of 2025, the raw sugar is stored is stored in three locations: Port of Mombasa (shed 7 and 8), the Nairobi Freight Terminus (NFT) Autoport and Mombasa Sugar Refinery Limited.”
Mr Shinali said test runs were ongoing in preparation for refining the imported raw sugar and the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning approved waiver of the Railway Development Levy (RDL) and Import Declaration Fee (IDF) under the Second Schedule to the Miscellaneous Fees and Levies Act, Cap 469C.
The committee has also recommended that Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe gazette the appointment of the Multi-Agency-Team, with clear terms of reference within 14 of adoption of the interim report.
“The Kenya Sugar Board submits to the committee returns filled pursuant to the Guidelines on Control of Imported Raw Sugar for Refining for the last five months, within seven days of adoption of this report by the National Assembly,” Mr Shinali said.
“The Kenya Revenue Authority ensures that the raw sugar at the Port of Mombasa, the Nairobi Freight Terminus Autosport and Mombasa Sugar Refinery Limited is bonded until all taxes due on the sugar are fully paid.”
The report further wants the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development to develop regulations governing the importation of raw sugar and refining of industrial sugar, to guide the issuance of import licenses for importation of raw sugar in Kenya within 60 days of adoption of the report by the National Assembly.
The committee also directed the Kenya Bureau of Standards to conduct regular surveillance checks in the market to ensure that the raw sugar is not diverted for human consumption.
The MPs have also recommended that the Inspector-General of Police should provide 24-hour security to the warehouses at the Port of Mombasa shed 7 and 8, the Nairobi Freight Terminus (NFT) Autosport and at the Mombasa Sugar Refinery Limited Factory at Kibos where the raw sugar is stored to ensure that there is no diversion of the raw sugar for human consumption and until the bond is executed to secure taxes due on the sugar.
